Tag: sports

The Giants of Africa Festival Inspires African Youth to ‘Dream Big’ Through Basketball, Culture, and Music

August 16, 2023

As one of the fastest-growing music markets in the world, Africa is home to dynamic genres like Afrobeats and amapiano that have taken pop music by storm. And while artists like Burna Boy, Rema, CKay, Wizkid, Tems, and Davido have risen as icons on their home continent, they’ve also succeeded on the global stage. 

The future is bright for African music and its stars, but there’s also a new generation of talent outside of music who are ready to show the world what they can do. That’s why we’re teaming up with the Giants of Africa Festival in Kigali, Rwanda, to showcase a shared vision for the continent’s future through music and basketball.   

To tip off the event, which runs August 13-19 and will see over 250 youth from 16 African countries in attendance, we worked with Giants of Africa (GOA) to create a special video, Music In Motion. Featuring players from the Nigeria Youth National Team who took time to share the ways music and basketball are linked in their lives. 

Co-founded by NBA executive Masai Ujiri, GOA uses basketball as an avenue to inspire African youth to dream big while also emphasizing education, empowerment, and leadership. Since 2003, GOA has positively impacted over 40,000 African youth across 17 countries by providing access to basketball courts and skills camps.

Along with the Music In Motion video, Spotify will also be presenting the festival’s closing concert. The headliner will be the magnetic Davido, and he’ll be joined by Tiwa Savage, the Nigerian singer-songwriter and actress known as the Queen of Afrobeats; Rwanda’s own Bruce Melodie, a gifted singer-songwriter known for his soulful melodies; and Tyla, a rising star recently selected as a featured artist for our RADAR program. Their performances promise to create an electrifying atmosphere and leave a lasting impression on festival attendees.

Together with GOA, we’re committed to supporting a new generation of talent by uniting the best of African youth, basketball, music, and culture.

Be sure to hit play on our Giants of Africa playlist, which features Afro hits from the 16 countries represented at the continent’s premier basketball festival. 

How Spotify Brings FC Barcelona Players and Passionate Fans Together

June 20, 2023

CANNES, FRANCE - JUNE 19: (L to R) Bradford Ross, VP Global Sports & Entertainment Marketing and Partnerships at The Coca-Cola Company, Cesc Fàbregas, Pola Gomez, Benjamin Braun, Samsung Europe CMO and Jeremy Erlich, Spotify Global Head of Music participate in the Top Hits and Goal-Scoring Kicks: Fans, Football and Media session at Spotify Beach, during Cannes Lions on June 19, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Spotify)

For fans, the world of sports is more than what happens on the field or the outcome on the scoreboard. It’s about bringing people together. In this way, sports and music are similar—especially when it comes to the passion that fans have for each.

This week at Spotify Beach at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, Spotify’s Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, hosted a conversation between former FC Barcelona player Cesc Fàbregas, freestyle footballer Pola Gomez, Coca Cola’s VP of Global Sports and Entertainment Marketing and Partnerships, Bradford Ross, and Samsung’s European CMO, Benjamin Braun. Together, they dove into the fan culture surrounding sports, music and the ways each brand has harnessed this passion. 

“About a year ago, we signed our partnership with FC Barcelona,” Jeremy said at the start of the conversation. “It’s been an amazing partnership. Together, we set out to bring the world of  Football and Music together. For us, it’s about how we can use FC Barcelona’s huge scale and fanbase to celebrate artists and grow our brand in places like India, Indonesia and Latin America. Football and sport are different from music, but they have the similarities of having very passionate fan bases and having very young fanbases.”

Cesc Fàbregas knows something about an active fanbase. He joined his first professional team, Arsenal, at age 16, coming off the World Cup tournament where he was voted the best player and goal scorer. “Even though we lost the final against Brazil, that’s the first time I started signing shirts and taking pictures with people.” A few years later, Cesc joined his home country’s Football Club Barcelona, and led the team to victory at the world championships at age 23. But he stays humble.

“I always say that in football, you never know everything,” said Cesc. “It’s one of those sports you can always grow, even when you’re 32, 35, 37, and everyone around me has helped me learn. Everyday, I’m thankful for that.” 

Pola Gomez also started playing football at a young age, thanks to her family’s love of the sport. But after sustaining injuries to both knees, she transitioned to football freestyle, where she interacts with most of her fans through social media. “I am on social media first for sharing my passion, sharing my tricks, but also to show off this incredible football freestyle universe. I love being close to my community, to share tips, but also to motivate people, especially girls trying out the sport of their dreams,” she said. 

Jeremy dove deeper into music and branding with each athlete, and how their sport brings fans together. Read on for some top moments from their conversation.

Cesc: It [The Spotify partnership with FC Barcelona] is another level. You see how big the club can be around the world. Everywhere you go, they know you. They know the players, they know the brand. Spotify has made a great choice in joining us.

Jeremy: As part of our Barcelona partnership, twice this past year for the Clásico, which is one of the most watched sports in the world, we replaced the Spotify jersey with an artist logo. We did Drake for the first Clásico, and then we did ROSALiA for the second. And let’s specifically talk about ROSALiA: She’s been a Barcelona fan her entire life. So the emotional connection when we offered her the opportunity to be on the jersey was, I think, one of the most enriching things we’ve done with an artist. She was moved to tears because her family and all her friends could see her on the jersey. But I think that really brings the strength of local connections.

Cesc: I think music has a really big, big part for us in football. Normally, there’s one designated player that will take charge of the music and will play music that everyone likes. But Spain is the place where there’s the most chaos because everyone likes a different type of music. 

So each game, we pick a player who will dictate what’s going to happen musically in the locker room. It’s really, really important because in this half an hour before the game when we listen to music, we also just pump everyone up and we get motivated and excited for the game. 

Sometimes we have one song that we all pick that we all feel identified with and we’ll just go for it. And you know it’s time for action. 

Jeremy: When you think of what you want brands to associate with you, what do you think of? What’s most important to you? 

Pola: Most important for me is to keep my image as a strong woman with my style. I really try to accept only brands with my values and ethics. At first, I posted just for me, and now all people can see my free style and they love and appreciate it. It’s just crazy—I don’t really have words for that, but it’s just so cool to be able to simply enjoy my passion. I can’t imagine my life without my ball. We are like a duo. We express ourselves together.

Cesc: I think it’s most important to bring everyone together and fight for what’s good and fight against what’s not good. Because we always have a big thing to say as sportsmen, as people who represent many, many things around the world in terms of culture and diversity. We just have to always be positive and try to improve as the world is trying to improve.  

Catch all the conversations happening on the ground at Cannes on Newsroom.Spotfy.com/SpotifyBeach2023 and listen to the full conversation on Spotify.

Spotify Fans in South Korea Can Now Enjoy More Than 4 Million Podcasts From Local and Global Creators

October 19, 2022

Lead image of shows included in Spotify Korea's podcast launch

In just under two years, Spotify has established itself as a destination for Korean music fans and artists through playlists like K-Pop ON! (온) and KrOWN. Now we want to do the same for podcasts. 

Starting today, Spotify Korea listeners will have access to more than 4 million podcasts worldwide. This includes global podcasts like TED Talks Daily, TED Business, BBC’s Global News Podcast, and the New York Times’ The Daily; Spotify Originals like Batman Unburied, Kim Kardashian’s The System, and Meghan Markle’s Archetypes; and Spotify Exclusives like Myths Of The World and Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy.

We’re also launching a podcast hub exclusively for South Korean listeners. This one-stop destination can help Spotify Korea listeners find the perfect podcast through personalized playlists and spotlights on local content. Some of the regional podcasts the hub will highlight include Confidentiality by Vivo (comedy), Leestar Radio (sports), Sun Kim’s Relentless World History (educational), Weird Mysterious Stories by Braden (true crime), Daebak Show by Eric Nam (music), Check It Out (arts & entertainment), The Psychiatrists (lifestyle & health), Intelligence Play by Jiyoon Kim (news & politics), Two Women in Talk (story), and more. 

In addition to providing new content for listeners, we’ve also localized our podcast creation tool, Anchor, in Korean. This will make it easier for Korean creators to openly record, edit, and distribute podcasts to Spotify and other services in minutes—all for free.

To learn more about what all this means for the South Korean podcast market, For the Record spoke with four of South Korea’s renowned creators: Eun-i Song, Eric Nam, Jaekuk Lee, and the Leestar Team.


Eun-i Song

Eun-i Song is the founder and CEO of Content Lab VIVO, as well as Media Lab Seesaw, a content creation and management company. She is also a household name in South Korea, where she is highly acclaimed as a comedian and for her pioneering content creation and distribution work with VIVO. Her podcast, Song Eun-i and Kim Sook’s Confidentiality, is now available on Spotify.

What do you like most about podcasts?

Since podcasts are not organized by broadcasting companies and do not require a large amount of production costs, the fact that anyone can create their own program is the biggest attraction. From the producer’s perspective, podcasts provide room to take risks with ideas that could not be done in broadcast, allowing for more diverse and creative content. 

How do you think the podcast market and listenership has changed since 2015, when your show, Song Eun-i and Kim Sook’s Confidentiality, first launched?

Photo of Eun-i Song posing against a white backdrop

Eun-i Song

When our podcast, Song Eun-i and Kim Sook’s Confidentiality, first started, the majority of popular podcasts were focused on politics. Now it seems like podcast genres are branching out to include entertainment, economy, and self help–related content. Similarly, the podcast market is increasingly looking at the older generations—who are familiar with radio culture and political content—and has expanded to include content pioneers who are bringing a diversity of content that hasn’t been given much podcast attention in the past.

Looking at the local entertainment industry in general, what kind of topics or content for audio/podcast services do you expect to gather popularity in the future?

I think the biggest advantage of audio and podcast content is that it allows people to multitask. I’ve heard that the listeners of our podcast like to do so while commuting, working in the office, doing design work, or working in the hospital. And now more audio content such as audio dramas and audio movies are in active production, and a lot of entertainment audio content with broadcasters is in the works. Listeners are selecting and enjoying content according to their individual tastes, and their preferences are constantly changing. Podcasts have also diversified alongside listeners’ tastes, and I hope that eclectic, genre-defying content will be introduced in the near future. 

With Spotify’s opening up of podcasts to listeners in South Korea, what are your expectations for Spotify?

If a variety of different worldwide content flows through a global podcast platform such as Spotify to South Korea, the range of choices for local listeners will expand and I think the overall pie of the industry will also increase. I expect the podcast market to grow bigger and attract more creators as the demand grows.


Eric Nam

Spotify podcast cover art for the Daebak Show

A multitalented veteran in the entertainment industry with fans around the world, Eric Nam is an ever-evolving artist, a singer-songwriter, a K-Pop artist, a CEO, and a podcaster. His globally popular podcast, Daebak Show, is now available on Spotify.

You introduced K-Pop as a genre and its artists through your Daebak Show. Was there a specific reason as to why you started the podcast?

Originally, I wanted to create content for international K-Pop fans because they give so much love to Korea and to K-Pop artists. After meeting English-speaking K-Pop fans, I thought it might be a more accessible way for fans to hear behind-the-scenes stories, learn more about Korean music and culture, and also get to know some of their favorite artists through stories and interviews they’ve never heard before. In addition, I’ve always wanted to host my own talk show of sorts, perhaps because of my background in interviewing. We thought that putting a podcast together would be a great way to start without overcomplicating the process.

Portrait of Eric Nam posing in front of a mirror

Eric Nam

What’s one tip you’d share about Spotify’s podcast creation tool as a podcast creator yourself?

Spotify is such an amazing platform, particularly for international reach, and it provides incredible analytics so you can track where your content gets the most engagement. 

With Spotify’s opening up of podcasts to listeners in South Korea, what are your expectations for Spotify?

I’m very excited for Spotify to finally be launching their podcast service in Korea because I’m personally a huge fan of the format. They’re engaging, entertaining, and educational in so many ways. I hope that Spotify users will be able to find not only their favorite songs, but also their favorite podcasts on the platform, and that they give Daebak Show a listen! Please follow us! 

What are some of your favorite podcasts, apart from your Daebak Show?

The Daily by the NYTimes, The Tablo Podcast, and Smartless.


Jaekuk Lee (of Momocon)

Spotify podcast cover art for Sun Kim's Relentless World History

Jaekuk Lee is the general manager and founding member of web and audio content company Momocon (an abbreviation of ‘more than mobile contents”). As an award-winning broadcast writer, he has extensive experience in the South Korean broadcasting industry, including radio. Momocon’s podcast, Sun Kim’s Relentless World History, is now available on Spotify.

What do you like most about podcasts?

I wish I could answer this with the local meme that says “faster than others, different from others” as podcasts provide way faster and more accurate content than radio broadcasts. In addition to allowing listeners to multitask, they are more accessible and offer more diversified information—even compared to video content.

You’ve previously produced numerous memorable podcasts. As a producer, what do you think is the most important factor podcasters should consider when creating a show?

Headshot of Jaekuk Lee Smiling

Jaekuk Lee

I have experimented a lot with podcast content and come to the conclusion that “fun” is the most important factor. After all, entertainment takes up consumers’ time, and I do not think anything without fun can appeal to them. Whether the content is historical, therapeutic, or informational, there must be something “fun” . . . followed by the content’s objective.

You made a big hit with the show Sun Kim’s Relentless World History. How did you come across creating short-form audio content on history?

Everyone loves history-based content, but this is especially true for Koreans. The way history can be interpreted in many different ways also makes it a great topic for discussion. Based on my past experiences as a radio writer, breaking news that would wake people up and short stories that are easy to understand are effective for morning broadcasts. Meanwhile, somewhat comfortable, longer stories that don’t need clear understanding are suitable for nighttime broadcasts to put listeners to sleep. I produced Sun Kim’s Relentless World History with hopes to provide a segment of history that is fun and easy to approach on the way to and from work. I believe that an interpretation of history could also become meme-worthy if it is fun.

In terms of content format and genre, what innovative trends do you think podcasters need to pay attention to moving forward?

I would say audio dramas and audio movies. Sound is the first form of entertainment humans encounter, and we have cultivated our imagination by listening to our parents’ voices in the womb. While the podcast market has grown through informative content so far, it should take a bigger step toward drama and storytelling through audio. While video content about astronauts on Mars would have to show Mars through the lens, an audio drama could let one’s imagination loose with the simple statement that an astronaut has arrived on Mars.

With Spotify’s opening up of podcasts to listeners in South Korea, what are your expectations for Spotify?

I’m hoping that people can be in touch with a wide range of genres and formats, which can, in turn, activate our national podcast industry. I’m thinking that global podcasts that scored a hit worldwide—in particular, audio dramas and documentaries—will actively flow in through Spotify, giving listeners more variety and fun. I hope it will be an opportunity for creative people to try more diverse things.


The Leestar Team

Spotify podcast cover art for Leestar Radio

Jongyoon Park and Jooheon Lee, known together as the Leestar Team, are CEOs of the new-media company Lab Choo Jong Yoon. The pair is famous for their soccer-focused video and podcast content, which has attracted a fan base of hardcore sports fans in South Korea. Their podcast, Leestar Radio, is now available on Spotify.

You have achieved success in the sports podcasting world with the rare distinction of having worked as a professional commentator and caster in the past. Could you tell us more about the state of sports podcasting in South Korea?

Photo of Leestar Team members Jongyoon Park eating a corndog and Jeonhoon Lee smiling and holding a keyboard like a guitar

The Leestar Team

The sports sector makes up a relatively small portion of the podcast market. Generally, politics, culture, and entertainment are the dominant genres, and they seem to be preferred by listeners because they are easily relatable. Meanwhile, sports podcasts are often found and listened to by those who are specifically interested in sports. This niche allows sports podcasts to secure a fixed fan base.

What do you like most about podcasts?

Podcasts have a more relaxed vibe compared to regular radio programs. Also, people can listen to podcasts at any time and pause them whenever they want, unlike radio. Moreover, anyone can record and share their podcast content with others.

팟캐스트 서비스 오픈 기념, 스포티파이가 선보이는 한국 크리에이터들과의 인터뷰

October 19, 2022

Lead image of shows included in Spotify Korea's podcast launch

스포티파이는 지난해 2월 선보인 음원 스트리밍 서비스에 이어 바로 오늘, 한국에 팟캐스트 서비스를 시작했습니다. 이제 국내 스포티파이 청취자들은 8천만개 이상의 음원과 더불어 전 세계 4백만 개 이상의 글로벌 팟캐스트 카탈로그를 이용할 수 있게 됐습니다.

한국 팟캐스트 서비스 개시에 따라 스포티파이는 국내 청취자들을 위한 팟캐스트 허브를 추가했으며, 이를 통해 다채로운 주제 및 카테고리별 손쉬운 프로그램 탐색이 가능해졌습니다. 지금 바로 팟캐스트 허브에서 다음과 같이 다양한 콘텐츠를 만나볼 수 있습니다.

뿐만 아니라 크리에이터들을 위해 스포티파이가 보유한 세계 최대 팟캐스트 제작 및 유통 플랫폼인 ‘앵커(Anchor)’의 한국어 서비스 역시 지원됩니다. 앵커는 쉽고 빠르게 팟캐스트를 제작하고 편집하여 다양한 플랫폼에 배포할 수 있도록 해줄 뿐만 아니라, 청취자에 대한 데이터와 인사이트도 제공합니다. 앵커의 이 모든 기능은 무료로 누구나 자유롭게 사용할 수 있습니다.

스포티파이의 팟캐스트 서비스 개시가 한국 팟캐스트 시장에 어떤 의미를 가져오고, 또 어떤 영향을 미칠까요? 이에 대해 자세한 이야기를 나누기 위해 한국의 인기 팟캐스트 크리에이터이자 다양한 분야에서 활발히 활동 중인 송은이, 에릭 남, 모모콘 이재국 본부장, 그리고 이스타팀(박종훈, 이주헌 랩추종윤 공동 대표이사)과 인터뷰를 진행했습니다. 이들의 이야기를 확인해 보세요!


송은이

Spotify podcast cover art for confidentiality

송은이는 콘텐츠 제작사 ‘컨텐츠랩 비보’와 매니지먼트사 ‘미디어랩 시소’의 대표다. 한국에서 인기 코미디언으로 명성을 이어가고 있으며, ‘컨텐츠랩 비보’를 설립하여 콘텐츠 제작 및 배포를 선도한 선구자로도 높은 평가를 받고 있다. 송은이가 진행하는 ‘송은이 김숙의 비밀보장’은 스포티파이에서 청취할 수 있다. 

팟캐스트의 매력이 무엇이라고 생각하시나요?

팟캐스트는 방송사에 편성되어 있지 않고, 비교적 큰 제작비가 들지 않아 사실상 누구나 본인의 방송을 만들수 있는 것이 가장 큰 매력이라고 생각합니다. 제작자 입장에서는 방송에서 하지 못했던 새로운 아이디어를 시도해 볼 수 있어 더 다양하고 기발한 콘텐츠들이 나올 수 있는 것 같습니다. 

2015년 ‘비밀보장’을 시작한 이후 2022년 현재까지 팟캐스트 시장과 청취자가 어떻게 변화했나요?

Portrait of Eun-i Song posing against a white backdrop

Eun-i Song

2015년 송은이 김숙의 비밀보장을 시작할 당시 인기 팟캐스트는 대부분 정치나 시사 콘텐츠였던 데 반해, 현재는 예능, 경제, 자기개발 등 장르가 다양화되는 추세인 것 같습니다. 청취자 또한 초기에는 정치 콘텐츠와 라디오 문화에 익숙한 일부 기성세대들이었다면 현재는 영상, 책, SNS 등 주류 문화뿐만 아니라 아직 주목받지 않은 새롭고 다양한 것을 찾아 나서는 콘텐츠 선구자들로 확장된 것 같고요.

앞으로 어떤 주제의 오디오 콘텐츠 및 팟캐스트가 인기를 끌 것이라고 예상하시나요?

팟캐스트를 비롯한 오디오 콘텐츠의 이점은 청취를 하면서 다른 일을 할 수 있는 것 아닐까 싶습니다. 실제로 비밀보장 청취자들도 운전이나 출퇴근하는 이동시간을 활용하거나 업무 중에도 팟캐스트를 듣는 것으로 알고 있습니다. 현재 오디오 드라마나 오디오 영화의 제작도 활발해졌고, 방송인을 섭외한 예능형 오디오 콘텐츠도 많이 만들어지고 있습니다. 

많은 사람들이 각자 취향에 따라 콘텐츠를 선별하여 즐기고 있고 취향이 다양화되고 있기도 합니다. 팟캐스트 또한 한 가지 장르에 치우치지 않고 더욱 다채로운 콘텐츠가 많이 나오면 좋겠다는 생각입니다.

스포티파이의 국내 팟캐스트 서비스 시작에 따라 기대하는 점이 있나요?

스포티파이와 같은 글로벌 팟캐스트 플랫폼을 통해 다양한 글로벌 콘텐츠가 유입되면 팟캐스트 콘텐츠 이용자로서 선택의 폭이 넓어지고, 이로 인해 이용자 파이도 늘어나지 않을까 싶습니다. 수요 증가에 따라 팟캐스트 시장이 더 커지고 크리에이터도 더 많아지길 기대합니다.


에릭 남

에릭 남은 아티스트, 싱어송라이터, CEO이자 팟캐스트 크리에이터로 활동 중이다. 다재다능한 면모로 전 세계 팬들의 사랑을 받는 에릭 남의 팟캐스트 ‘대박쇼’는 스포티파이에서 들을 수 있다.

‘대박쇼’에서 다양한 K팝 음악과 아티스트를 소개하셨는데, K팝 위주의 토크쇼를 진행하게 된 계기나 이유가 무엇인가요?

글로벌 K팝 팬들이 한국과 K팝 아티스트들에게 너무나도 큰 관심을 보이고 사랑을 주기 때문에 그들을 위한 콘텐츠를 만들고 싶었습니다. 그러던 중 영어권의 K팝 팬들과 만나게 됐고, 이들에게 팟캐스트가 K팝 업계의 비하인드 스토리를 듣고, 한국의 음악과 문화를 배우고, 또 새로운 이야기와 인터뷰를 통해 좋아하는 아티스트에 대해 더 알아갈 수 있는 통로가 될 수 있겠다는 생각이 들었습니다. 저는 인터뷰 진행 경험이 있기도 해 항상 저만의 토크쇼를 진행하고 싶기도 했죠. 팟캐스트 제작은 이 모든 것을 이루기 위한 가장 좋은 수단이라고 생각했습니다.

Photo of Eric Nam posing in front of a mirror

Eric Nam

팟캐스트 크리에이터로서 스포티파이의 팟캐스트 제작 툴의 활용법이나 팁이 있다면 공유해 주세요.

스포티파이는 자신의 팟캐스트 콘텐츠가 어디에서 가장 인기를 얻고 있는지 등 청취자에 대한 분석 데이터를 제공해주는 훌륭한 플랫폼으로, 특히 글로벌 청취자 확보에 매우 유용합니다. 

스포티파이의 국내 팟캐스트 서비스 시작에 따라 기대하는 점이 있나요?

스포티파이 플랫폼의 열렬한 팬으로서 스포티파이가 드디어 한국에 팟캐스트 서비스를 시작했다니 너무 기쁩니다. 스포티파이의 팟캐스트는 다방면으로 매력적이고 흥미롭고 또 배울 점이 많이 있습니다. 스포티파이 청취자들이 스포티파이에서 좋아하는 음악뿐만 아니라 팟캐스트도 찾아보고, ‘대박쇼’도 들어봐 주시길 바랍니다. 저희 팟캐스트도 팔로우 해주세요!

본인의 ‘대박쇼’ 외에 좋아하는 팟캐스트를 소개해 주세요.

The Daily by NYTimes, 에픽하이 타블로의 The Tablo Podcast, Smartless 등이 있습니다. 


이재국

Spotify podcast cover art for Sun Kim's Relentless World History

뉴미디어 예능 및 오디오 콘텐츠 제작사 모모콘(More than Mobile Contents)의 창립 멤버인 이재국 본부장은 라디오 및 방송 작가로 활동하며 한국 방송 업계에서 명성을 쌓았다. 모모콘의 팟캐스트 콘텐츠 ‘썬킴의 세계사 완전정복’은 스포티파이에서 만나볼 수 있다.

팟캐스트의 매력이 무엇이라고 생각하시나요?

“누구보다 빠르게, 남들과는 다르게” 요즘 유행하는 밈으로 대답을 대신할 수 있을 것 같습니다. 팟캐스트는 지상파 라디오 방송과 비교했을 때 콘텐츠 속도와 정확도 면에서 압도적입니다. 동영상과 달리 멀티태스킹이 가능할 뿐만 아니라, 훨씬 편하고 다양한 정보를 얻을 수 있다는 점도 큰 매력이라고 생각합니다.

훌륭하고도 다채로운 팟캐스트를 다수 제작한 제작자의 관점에서 팟캐스터가 프로그램을 만들 때 가장 중요하게 고려해야 할 점이 있을까요?

Headshot of Jaekuk Lee smiling

Jaekuk Lee

그동안 콘텐츠에 대한 다양한 시도를 많이 해봤는데 역시 가장 중요한 건 재미인것 같습니다. 엔터테인먼트는 결국 소비자의 시간을 뺏는 건데 재미가 없으면 그 무엇도 소비자에게 다가가지 못합니다. 역사, 힐링, 정보 등 무엇을 전달하든 결국 콘텐츠에 있어 제일 먼저 고려해야 할 건 “재미”고, 그 다음은 왜 만들어야 하는지라는 “목적”이라고 생각합니다.

‘썬킴의 세계사 완전정복’이 크게 히트했는데, 숏폼 오디오 역사 콘텐츠를 만들게 된 배경은 무엇인가요?

역사는 모두가 좋아하고 특히 우리나라 사람들이 좋아하는 콘텐츠입니다. 역사에 대한 해석도 다양하기 때문에 다른 사람들과 토론하기에도 좋은 아이템입니다. 저는 라디오 작가를 오랫동안 했는데 아침 방송에서는 잠이 깰만한 소식을 한번에 알아들을 수 있게 단문으로 쓰는 것이 효과적입니다. 반면 심야 라디오에서는 마음 편한 이야기를 무슨 말인지 정확히 잘 몰라도 되는 장문으로 써야 청취자들이 편하게 잠자리에 들 수 있습니다. “썬킴의 세계사 완전정복”은 출퇴근길에 쉽고 재밌게 접할 수 있는 역사 이야기 한 토막을 제공하겠다는 취지에서 제작하게 됐습니다. 재밌게 만들면 역사에 대한 해석도 “밈”이 될 수 있으니까요.

콘텐츠 형식이나 장르 면에서 앞으로 팟캐스터들이 눈여겨봐야 할 혁신적인 트렌드가 있을까요?

오디오 드라마와 오디오 영화라고 생각합니다. 소리는 인간이 최초로 접하게 되는 엔터테인먼트로 우리는 뱃속에서부터 부모님의 목소리를 들으며 상상력을 키워왔습니다. 팟캐스트 시장이 그동안 정보 콘텐츠로 많은 발전을 했다면 이제는 오디오로 전하는 무궁무진한 드라마와 스토리텔링의 세계로 또 한번 발전해야 한다고 생각합니다. 비디오는 화성에 간 사람을 촬영해서 보여줘야 하지만 오디오 드라마는 “나는 지금 화성에 도착했다”는 한마디로 무한한 상상력을 응집시킬 수 있습니다. 

스포티파이의 국내 팟캐스트 서비스 시작에 따라 기대하는 점이 있나요?

청취자들이 다양한 장르와 형식의 콘텐츠를 접할 수 있길 바라고, 그 덕분에 한국 팟캐스트 시장도 활성화 됐으면 하는 바람입니다. 특히 오디오 드라마나 다큐멘터리 등 글로벌 히트를 기록한 팟캐스트가 적극적으로 유입되어 청취자들에게 다채로운 재미를 주고, 창작하는 사람들에게는 더 다양한 시도를 할 수 있는 계기가 됐으면 좋겠습니다.


이스타 팀

Spotify cover art for the Leestar Radio podcast

‘이스타 팀’으로 알려진 박종윤과 이주헌은 뉴미디어 회사 랩추종윤의 공동 대표로, 축구를 주제로 한 영상 및 팟캐스트를 제작하여 한국 스포츠 팬들의 마음을 사로잡았다. 이스타 팀의 팟캐스트 ‘이스타 라디오’는 스포티파이에서 만나볼 수 있다.

전문 해설위원과 캐스터라는 인터넷 방송에서 보기 드문 조합으로 팟캐스트에 진출해 스포츠 분야 청취율 1위를 달성하기도 했는데, 한국 시장 내 스포츠 팟캐스트 현황에 대해 설명해 주세요.

Image of Leestar Team members eating a corndog and holding a keyboard

The Leestar Team

전체 팟캐스트 시장에서 스포츠 분야는 비교적 낮은 비율을 차지하고 있습니다. 기본적으로 팟캐스트는 정치, 교양, 예능 분야의 비중이 높은데 누가 들어도 쉽게 공감할 수 있는 주제이기 때문에 더 많이 선호된다고 보여집니다. 물론 스포츠 팟캐스트는 스포츠에 관심 있는 사람들이 찾아서 듣는 경우가 많고, 이는 곧 고정적인 팬층을 확보할 수 있다는 강점으로 연결됩니다.

팟캐스트만의 매력이 무엇이라고 생각하시나요?

팟캐스트에서는 일반적인 라디오 프로그램보다 자유롭고 편한 분위기를 접할 수 있습니다. 또한 라디오와는 달리 내가 원하는 시간에 원하는 방송을 들을 수 있고, 중간에 잠시 멈출 수도 있고요. 누구나 녹음해서 본인의 방송을 남들과 쉽게 공유할 수 있는 것 역시 큰 장점이라 생각합니다.

Viral Football Sensation Aidan Hutchinson Reveals the Songs That Inspire Him

September 15, 2022

Image of Aidan Hutchinson

Before he ever played a second of pro football, rookie Aidan Hutchinson found himself in the headlines. As part of a training camp tradition earlier this summer, Aidan was called on to serenade his teammates with an acapella performance, and he chose to go with Michael Jackson’s 1983 hit “Billie Jean.” Little did he know at the time, but he was about to go viral as his teammates joined in on the fun and turned a silly moment at practice into a cultural sensation.

Now with training camp out of the way and his first game under his belt, Aidan is officially a pro. To celebrate the start of the football season, and the start of Aidan’s career, we spoke with the defensive lineman as he created a Spotify playlist full of his favorite songs that he listens to at home and in the locker room. 

An eclectic, laid-back mix of hits from past and present, Aidan’s playlist features the country vibes of RADAR artist Zach Bryan, thoughtful rhymes of J. Cole, iconic glam rock of David Bowie, and even orchestral compositions of Hans Zimmer. “Billie Jean” also made the cut, of course. 

But to learn more about his big viral moment, the start of his rookie season, and the inspiration behind his playlist, For the Record took a few minutes to catch up with Aidan.

What was the inspiration behind the songs you picked for this playlist?

I have very diverse taste in music and I was looking to include every kind of different genre that I listen to. I got just about a little bit of everything on there, and it reminds me of all the different moods that you could be in. I look at that playlist and you can listen to it when you’re happy, sad, chilling, in the car jamming out . . . you know, whatever you really want going. So yeah, I just have a lot of variety in there. That’s what I like. 

Is there a song on your playlist that might surprise your friends or teammates?

So I got a couple instrumental and orchestral songs in there. I don’t think many of my teammates know that’s the kind of stuff I listen to in my pregame playlist. And so for this playlist, I added the Hans Zimmer track “S.T.A.Y.” from Interstellar (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).  

As much as I love music, I don’t need someone talking in my ear in those big moments. I kind of like to talk to myself through some kind of instrumental music. I got some inspirational ones in my pregame playlist, and I think that would be something that would surprise some people who don’t know about my own little routine.

How did you end up singing “Billie Jean” in front of your entire team during training camp? 

That’s a team tradition. I was told in April that I should have a song in mind and I couldn’t think of a song for months. I was like, “I don’t wanna go up there and get booed by singing some stupid song. I want to go up there and make a show.”

So it kind of hit me a couple days before I was asked to go up there and sing the song. I woke up at like 7 a.m., had a little epiphany, and I found “Billie Jean.” 

I just started studying it cuz the lyrics are a little hard to learn. I realized I never really knew what he was saying besides “Billie Jean is not my lover.” It actually took some concentration trying to study that song. I’m just glad I had that realization because if you had asked me a couple days before that, I don’t know what I would’ve sang.  

What was it like to go viral before the season even started? Were you expecting that response from your teammates?

Yeah, it was crazy to have all this buzz in the preseason. I knew it was a good song, but I wasn’t sure how they’d react. I was praying that my teammates would buy into the song while I was singing it. In my head I kind of had this visualization of what actually happened, before it all happened, and the best-case scenario was that they’d all jump in—we’d all be singing. But it went even better than I could ever imagine. So that’s props to them for buying into my song. 

I just tried to go in there and give it my all because that’s the only thing anybody cares about. If you go up there and half-ass it, guys are gonna boo you.

Do you have any favorite Spotify playlists that you follow?

I like Discover Weekly and the other personalized playlists. I usually listen to those when I see them in the app, and I think it’s kind of cool how they create them based on your tastes. I was also listening to a Spotify playlist today called Country Heartache. So yeah, I dive into those a little bit. 

What are you most excited about as you get ready for your first professional season?

Hmm, let me think about this. I would say I’m just most excited about just getting to play against that NFL competition and getting to play very talented linemen. I’ve always been a very competitive person and just being able to go out there, go against the best in the world, gets me excited because I want to prove that I’m one of the best.

For the latest updates on pro football’s top players, hit play and start streaming the latest  episode of The Fantasy Footballers podcast below:

 

‘The Fantasy Footballers’ Scores Touchdown After Touchdown as a Spotify Live Show

August 24, 2022

The Party Room Fantasy Footballers Live Show Cover

What’s the game plan behind the perfect sports podcast? Andy Holloway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright, hosts of The Fantasy Footballers, have perfected it. Each day of the NFL season, the trio breaks down the world of fantasy football with astute analysis, strong opinions, and matchup-winning advice you can’t get anywhere else. The production quality is unparalleled and the comedic banter truly entertaining. Their formula works—and it’s turned them into bona fide champions with the number-one sports podcast on Spotify. 

After years of producing an increasingly popular podcast, the team took to Spotify Live to bring their show to a new space. The first season was an overwhelming success, with Rooms that are consistently filled to max capacity. Their newest season of Live content kicks off on Spotify Wednesday, August 24, with The Party Room.  

If you’re looking for expert fantasy football advice and a pretty strong dose of comedy, look no further than these three friends, who took some time to tell For the Record about the show, their friendship, and the allure of fantasy football. 

How did you each first get into fantasy football—and why did you stay? 

Andy: My history goes all the way back to playing fantasy basketball in high school. It just intrigued me, being a stats type of person. There was always something new to check, and it got you interested in everybody in the entire league. That interest migrated into football. It changed everything about what Sunday was like because you had interest in the worst teams and the best teams and it didn’t matter what your hometown loyalties were. 

It also became a shared language among those that play beyond your own league as well. So you can run into people in other walks of life, and if someone drops some comment about fantasy football, all of a sudden you have that shared common language where you start talking about this player, this game, this thing that happened. 

Jason: Ironically, Andy doesn’t remember that we actually met in high school while starting to play fantasy basketball. That was what brought us together. We were in a fantasy basketball league in high school. And then years later I started a league in college with my theater buddies, and that has developed into the main league that we’re all in now, 25, 30 years later. There’s a camaraderie that just allows this long-term, cool friendship based on a game that never kind of goes away.

Mike: I’ve kind of “sport hopped.” I love all sports really, but I often home in on one. So I had a time period where it was basketball. I became a diehard basketball fan and then I ended up jumping into fantasy basketball, learning the ins and outs of “how does a fantasy sport work?” It was also just a real cool way to be in connection with my high school buddies who moved away to Tucson for college. 

Fantasy football is the ultimate “I told you so” sport. When you’re competitive, one of the things you love most about life is being right about something, telling people you are right, and then it actually happening and rubbing their face in your correctness. And even though I have no control on the field, Fantasy just gives you that sense of pride. That sense of “That’s my guy. I told you this team was good. You should’ve listened to me.” 

You put the show together several years ago, and it’s now the number-one sports podcast on Spotify. How did you know the show had taken off?

Jason: It was really a numbers game, and we came from entrepreneurship and business. So when we came here, what we found was that when someone found our show, they stuck around. We were extremely sticky. And that was really the secret sauce to our growth. So week after week after week after week, at the beginning, we were almost doubling. Right off the bat, we felt like this is going to be something that we can do, like that we can support our families doing. 

Andy: We realized we hit a chord with people in a way that maybe other shows weren’t doing. Maybe it was a reflection of Fantasy growing at the same time as the NFL at the same time as podcasting.

Andy Hollyway, Jason Moore, and Mike Wright, hosts of The Fantasy Footballers

L – R: Mike Wright, Jason Moore, and Andy Holloway, hosts of “The Fantasy Footballers”

You also have a Live show, The Party Room, returning for its second season on Spotify. What are the opportunities that Live gives you as hosts that make the format stand out/differ from the podcast?

Mike: When we’re doing the recorded version of the podcast, it’s us three and a team of producers. You know that hundreds of thousands of people are listening, but you don’t feel it. You are very isolated in this room. 

But when you’re Live on Spotify and someone hits an awesome statistic or a really funny zinger and the chat just explodes and there’s all these gif reactions coming through—it’s really hard to quantify what that energy is. You feel it inside, like it really changes how you’re talking to each other. And because you get that instant gratification, the instant feedback from the people, it’s extremely fun, extremely organic. It’s all about community, and with Live, the community is actually together. 

What’s the biggest, dumbest fantasy mistake you’ve ever made? 

Jason: Our show is very well known as a “Late-Round Quarterback” strategy—we don’t put too much stock in the quarterback position. But back in the day, I put a lot of stock in the quarterback position. I went all in on Tom Brady after his 50-touchdown season, thinking, “I’m going to just dominate.” And then the first game, he got injured and was gone the whole season and my season was over.

Andy: As fun as it is to win in Fantasy, the pain of losing is worse. It’s more extreme somehow because we are just a community of rehashes—of 20/20 hindsight. Last year I lost the championship because I started one guy over another guy. You live with it for the rest of your life.

Mike: I would say my mistakes usually come from just overall stubbornness. You know, you want to be right. And you want to be right that a player is going to be good. So you draft them, you get them on your fantasy squad . . . and then they’re bad. You’re like, okay, well, that’s one week. Another week and they’re bad. And they just keep being bad over and over. But the stubborness in your heart won’t allow you to admit that you were wrong on that player so you just keep using them over and over.  

You’re all from Phoenix, home of the championship coming up in February 2023. What are your way-too-early predictions for who we’ll see in the game and who will win?

Andy: I have Buffalo coming out of the AFC. As for the NFC—the Los Angeles Rams get back there again. But I think Buffalo ends up winning it. I think I’ll take Buffalo over the Rams. 

Jason: I want to not go second. That is exactly what I have. I have the Bills beating the Rams. 

Mike: I will take the Denver Broncos coming out of the AFC. And I’ll be boring on the other side, I’ll say Tom Brady will make it back again. But I’ll take the Denver Broncos to win. They’d be very happy, those Broncos fans. 

 

Take a listen to the newest season of Fantasy Footballers Live on Spotify below.

Relive Soccer’s Biggest Moments With the Spotify Original Podcast ‘22 Goals’

August 10, 2022

There are few sports that have the power to captivate a critical mass of the global population quite like soccer (aka football) does. And every four years, fans rally behind their nations and experience the highs and lows of the beautiful game in one of the biggest tournaments in the world. 

As hype builds for the tournament in Qatar this November, Brian Phillips, Senior Staff Writer for The Ringer, is taking time to revisit some of the most memorable and significant goals of past competitions in the new Spotify Original Podcast 22 Goals.

Premiering today, the weekly podcast will explore those moments on the field that brought joy—or despair—to entire nations. But the show also dives into the cultural impact each of these 22 goals had off the pitch, highlighting how they continue to transcend the game itself.

For the Record sat down with Brian to discuss the inspiration behind the podcast, why big goals leave such an indelible mark on soccer fans, and what listeners can expect from the show as it leads up to the start of the tournament. 

Traditionally,  lists of great soccer goals have come in video form. What inspired you to explore this idea as a podcast?

It’s interesting that you ask that question because I was telling my dental hygienist about this podcast, and he was like, “That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard. Nobody wants to listen to you describe the goals with words.” But the more I thought about it, I do think that podcasting is the right form for what I’m doing here, because what I really want to do is explore the joy of the game. 

A video series can provide a hit of joy really directly because you get to watch the goal and it’s like, “Oh my God, that’s an amazing goal.” But I wanted space to talk about where those moments came from and what they mean and how they kind of filter into society and culture. And so the podcast form makes more sense because you can have a longer meditation and talk to listeners in a very intimate or informal way. 

It’s fascinating that some of the most legendary goals often become more memorable than the matches themselves. Why is it that a single goal has the ability to captivate fans in this way?

There are goals that seem more memorable than the matches and there are goals that overshadow loss. I’m thinking about the goal that Netherlands midfielder Dennis Bergkamp scored against Argentina in ’98. It’s a match that the Netherlands didn’t win, and they fell short at the World Cup as they usually end up doing. But that goal just kind of stands out as such a beautiful thing that it almost seems like the rest of the tournament and the rest of the drama kind of fades around just that one moment. 

I think soccer has a couple of things going for it that makes it really well suited to provide these kinds of transcendent, euphoric just out-of-your-head sort of experiences. I think for one thing, it’s really hard to score in soccer. There’s this kind of frustration algorithm at work where you’re building up this anticipation for tens of minutes at a time while teams are trying to score. And then when it finally happens, even a relatively routine goal feels like a huge deal. I think the other thing is that soccer is probably the closest we come to a sport that is universal. So when something big happens in a World Cup, it’s like a breakthrough that you’re sharing with a vast percentage of the world’s population. It’s a recipe for these moments to become meaningful.

As fans sit down and listen to each episode, what can they expect in terms of storytelling?

Each goal is like the climax of a story. And so the episodes are really just about telling those stories and trying to use those stories to talk about things that were going on in the history of soccer, history of the world, around those moments. But mostly it’s just like if you take the goal as the high point of a story, then what is the story that comes before that, and how does it lead to this? We all know the moment is coming. In most of the episodes, I say at the very beginning, “This is the goal.” And you know what the ending is in advance, but it’s just about the journey.

Every goal on this list is obviously well-known to some extent, but are there any with a mythology or backstory that might surprise fans?

I think it’s probably the case that the older the goal is, the less people will know about it.  Particularly for fans like me who didn’t grow up with the game and caught the train fairly late. So one goal that I think American listeners are going to really enjoy hearing about is, it was scored by Joe Gaetjens in 1950. He was a Haitian player who played due to some weird loopholes at the time for the U.S. national team. And he scored a goal that allowed the United States to accomplish perhaps the biggest upset in World Cup history. And I just don’t think most people in America know about it. I didn’t even know about it until fairly recently. I feel like people are going to really flip over it because it’s an incredible story.

And then the other episode that comes to mind is about England in 1966 and the goal scored by Geoff Hurst that helped them win the World Cup. But a whole lot of that episode focuses on the history of the theft of the World Cup trophy in London, when it was on display at a stamp exhibition. There was this whole heist and it vanished. And then it was rediscovered in a really fun way. That’s a pretty well-known story for a lot of people, but I think it’s just so kooky and fun that people are going to get into that.

Do you have any predictions for who might score the next iconic goal in Qatar later this year?

Before I answer that question, I should acknowledge that there are literally octopi who have a better record of predicting World Cup outcomes. The future is not my strong suit when it comes to sports. But I feel like I want to say Poland striker Robert Lewandowski. I feel like he can’t stop falling into goals in his club career, and he’s going to do something amazing at a tournament one of these days. I think this is the tournament where that happens.

To make the countdown to Qatar a little more bearable, hit the play button below and start streaming the first episode of 22 Goals.

Play Your Part and The Roster Team Up To Deliver The Fearless, a Podcast Page Focused on Gender Equality in Sports

March 28, 2022

Some of the biggest cultural moments of the past five years point to an increasing recognition of athletes as being more than just the sports they play. Whether it’s tennis star Naomi Osaka choosing to opt out of interviews for her mental health or NBA legend Lebron James refusing to “shut up and dribble” when it comes to the deaths of Black people at the hands of police, conversations about social justice and sports are now par for the course. As part of Women’s History Month, we felt it was important to call attention to the battle for equality that women in the sports world fight every day.

Which is why two of our podcast editorial communities, the social justice–focused Play Your Part and the sports culture–focused The Roster, have teamed up to deliver The Fearless hub on Spotify. Centered around identity in sports as well as the economic realities behind the sports industry, the inaugural edition of The Fearless features a selection of podcast episodes curated by Play Your Part editor Ayo Oti and The Roster editor Deondric Royster, along with guest-curated playlists that offer a deeper insight into the equality struggles women face in sports. 

“Whether sexism, racism, homophobia, or even a mix of those and other societal ills, women—trans women included—have gone about breaking barriers in spite of the ones put in their way. Our page is an opportunity to share their stories and the creators that amplify them,” Ayo and Deondric told For the Record in a joint statement. “We believe there is an opportunity to explore this intersection between social justice and sports, and we hope that listeners interested in either or both issues will engage with The Fearless.”

Flipping the script

One of the guest curators for this edition of The Fearless is Dr. Amira Rose Davis, whose podcasts Burn It All Down and American Prodigies not only explore the intersection of gender, race, and equality in sports, but also the ways in which it parallels the world at large.

“​​I think one of the old adages is that sports reflect society, and people have pointed to that to say, well, the way that women are treated within the world of sports reflects a lot on how they are regarded by their state, by their government, by society as well,” Amira explained in an interview with For the Record. “I also push it a step further and like to think about sports as a laboratory. And so it’s not just that it’s reflecting society, but it also has a capacity to lead the way both in good and bad ways on many things.”

On Hear Us Now: Black Women in Sports, Amira’s playlist for The Fearless, she includes two episodes of her own from American Prodigies. These episodes share the stories of two Black gymnasts: Dianne Durham, who was left off the 1984 Olympic team despite winning the all-around at the 1983 World Championships, and Betty Okino, who was part of the USA team that took bronze in the 1992 Games. But looking beyond the challenges these athletes faced, Amira also considers how they worked to create a more sustainable space for Black gymnasts.

“A lot of what Betty details is echoed in other interviews we’ve conducted about the sport of gymnastics and other aesthetic sports like figure skating,” Amira revealed. “It is about body image ideas—about being voiceless. And with Betty, we have a conversation about how being a Black girl on top of being a woman made it harder to speak out.”

The path to payback

In addition to this intersection of gender and race in sports, another major point of emphasis for The Fearless is pay equity. While working on the hub, Ayo and Deondric were both inspired by the film LFG, which documents the U.S. Women’s National Team’s (USWNT’s) highly publicized legal battle for pay equity following their triumph at the 2019 World Cup. And it’s a big reason why Ayo and Deondric made a point to feature Alex Andrejev’s podcast, Longshot: Payback. 

Like LFG, Longshot: Payback explores the social and economic issues revolving around the USWNT and women’s soccer at large. Along the way, Alex, a reporter who covers Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Charlotte FC for the Charlotte Observer, takes a closer look at one pro soccer player in particular: Jessica McDonald, who has become a prominent face in the USWNT’s pay equity battle.

Jessica also contributed a playlist to The Fearless, which you can find on Spotify.

There’s a lot that’s inspirational about Jessica’s story, which includes overcoming a tumultuous childhood to win a national championship with the University of North Carolina and then recovering from a devastating knee injury early in her career to win the 2019 World Cup with the USWNT. But what stands out most is that the 34-year-old forward is one of the few single mothers currently playing in the NWSL, and prior to this year’s NWSL labor agreement, she had never had a season as a professional athlete where she made more than $42,000.

“It’s a little bit jaw-dropping to hear Jessica say, ‘Yeah, I was only making $15,000 in my first few years in the league.’ Like, here’s a World Cup winner saying this, and really, it was a mountain,” Alex reflected in an interview with For the Record. “It was after her time playing for the NWSL’s Houston Dash that she was working at an Amazon packing facility during an offseason and she was like, ‘I don’t want to do this to my son anymore. I feel like it’s time to kind of throw the towel in.’”

Alex hopes that Longshot: Payback can help bring more exposure to athletes with stories similar to Jessica’s and help put into perspective just how little they’re being paid relative to the sacrifices they make. But Alex’s other hope is that this will inspire women in sports to continue banding together and demanding fair compensations from the leagues, federations, and organizations they play for.

This is a sentiment shared by Amira, who has seen the same phenomenon play out in the WNBA with its players securing a historic labor agreement, and she believes that the next step in pay equity in sports is to consider the idea of “fair compensation” in a more holistic way.

“Why are there players who are six foot and change squeezing onto coach flights? What about child care? What provisions are there for parents, for pregnancy, for adoption, for multiple forms of family making?” Amira asked. “We’re obviously seeing there’s more of an emphasis on not needing to work multiple jobs just to afford life as a professional athlete. And I think one of the big things that we need to continue to see happen are these widespread collective bargaining agreements that include provisions about quality of life and not simply that paycheck number.”

Interested in learning more about the ways that gender inequality affects women in sports? Head over to The Fearless and start streaming one of the podcast episodes handpicked by our teams at Play Your Part and The Roster. And for more on the film LFG, be sure to check out the curated podcast picks from the editorial community over at Listen If You Watch.

Getting Ready for the Big Game? Tune In to These Sports Podcasts and Spotify Greenroom Live Rooms

February 10, 2022

It’s no secret that football fans have an insatiable appetite for the game and everything that surrounds it. And they’re often looking to go deeper—whether by digging into the stats of a player or team, entering a fantasy league, or connecting with other fans. The week leading up to the biggest game of the year (and the week coming out of it) is no exception.  

Podcasts provide the perfect medium for rabid fans to get their football fill, hear from the experts, and reflect on the way sports influence society—and vice versa. Spotify has the home-field advantage on all sports and gaming talk with podcasts from The Ringer, live Spotify Greenroom discussions, and custom curations on our latest podcast editorial hub, The Roster. 

Whether you’re creating or consuming content, Spotify has plenty for you to warm up with as you prepare for the Big Game.  

Rounding out The Roster

The Roster is our new community for sports, betting, and gaming, and it has made its rookie debut on Spotify just in time for the Big Game. Like our other podcast editorial hubs, The Roster is a one-stop-shop destination for fans across many different communities, backgrounds, and sports to find the game-day discussions they’re looking for. Fans can find a five-episode weekly curation of the biggest sports conversations under Podcast Browse every Thursday. (This week, it includes Let’s Go! with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray, “Tom Brady Speaks Post-Retirement for the First Time.”) 

Plus, leading into the Big Game, The Roster’s four distinct shelves have been broken down into themes celebrating many different aspects of football: 

Most Valuable Playlists: This shelf is dedicated to guest curations featuring talent from The Ringer, sports journalists, iconic athletes, and other voices within the sports and gaming communities. Make sure to check out The Ringer’s Bill Simmons’s ultimate guide to this weekend’s game. 

Sports on Demand: This space updates weekly to provide the best podcast episodes that recap, forecast, and bring awareness to the moments, events, and athletes of the month. Of course, this week it’s football themed with curated episodes recapping previous games, including selections like The Man to Man with DB & AB (that’s Antoine Bethea and Darius Butler for the uninitiated), who speak to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs. 

Beyond the Game: Fans of experiences that speak to the human side of sports can come here for stories of injustices, scandals, inequalities, testimonies, triumphs, breakthrough moments, and beyond. For example, this week you’ll find the Black Girls Talk Sports podcast episode “Celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day.” 

The Moneyline: There’s a world beyond the game, whether that’s fantasy or betting, and this shelf digs into that. So this week, check out The Ringer Gambling Show, “Initial Super Bowl Leans and Putting Together Prop Bet Narratives.” 

Not a fan of football? No sweat. Tune back in ahead of upcoming basketball, baseball, and soccer championships and playoffs—as well as many more moments—for custom curations to help avid fans of all types wade through the stands to find sports and gaming content they’re craving.

The Ringer Shows Live From Los Angeles at Radio Row

Back in 2020, Spotify acquired The Ringer and with it, the very best podcasts from across the world of sports. So this week, The Ringer hosts will be recording special episodes from Radio Row across your favorite podcasts like The Ringer NFL Show; New York, New York; The Full Go with Jason Goff; The Ringer Fantasy Football Show; and The Ringer Gambling Show. Here are the shows to check out:

The Ringer NFL Show: Known for featuring a rotating panel of football experts, The Ringer NFL Show hits LA to bring fans the lastest news and insights ahead of the Big Game. Join hosts Kevin Clark, Nora Princiotti, Ben Solak, Steven Ruiz, Jason Goff, James Jones, Ryan Shazier, Mallory Rubin, and Kaelen Jones as they break down everything you need to know. 

Throughout the past week, The Ringer’s hosts have been breaking down the action. On Tuesday, Kevin, Danny, and Ben discussed and shared their picks for Super Bowl LVI. On Wednesday, Jason James and Ryan shared their early thoughts, including James’s and Ryan’s personal playoff stories. Still to come this week, the hosts of The Ringer NFL Show will sit down with Maxx Crosby, Mike Evans, Matt Ryan, Zach Ertz, and more! Fans can also find episodes of The Ringer Fantasy Football Show in the same feed. 

New York, New York: Veteran New York sports talk host John Jastremski gives his unique take on all the big stories in the Big Apple and beyond, including interesting guest conversations, gambling picks, and reactions from you, the listener. On Radio Row, JJ will be joined by Victor Cruz, Mike Golic, Mack Hollins, Jerome Baker, Kevin Mawae, and more to bring the New York perspective to the LA standoff. 

The Full Go with Jason Goff: Chicagoland’s own Jason Goff teamed up with The Ringer to put his unique spin on the Windy City sports scene. Featuring insights and analyses, interviews with friends and people who matter in town, and reactions from you, the listener, this is your new home for all things Chi. This week, Jason will speak with Greg Newsome and Anthony Walker for the podcast and will be live on Spotify Greenroom with additional guests.

The Ringer Gambling Show: The Ringer Gambling Show is here to help you place your bets on the biggest sports around the world. Join NFL Analyst Warren Sharp on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with guests Chris Vernon, Ben Solak, and Joe House to guide you through the NFL betting landscape. Each week, they will cover everything from spreads, game totals, and parlays, to player props, futures, post-game reactions, and more. Tune in for everything you need to know about how to score big on game bets!

Get it all live on Greenroom

All week long, Spotify Greenroom and The Ringer hosts have been on the ground in Los Angeles broadcasting live from Radio Row—something that will continue well into Game Day. 

On Sunday, Spotify Greenroom’s live coverage of one of the biggest days in sports kicks off with John Jastremski’s guide to the best bets, most entertaining props, and absolute locks for the action ahead with The Ringer Gambling Show. When the game ends, tune in live for a one-two punch of post-game reaction, breaking down everything that happened on the field . . . and everything that happened off of it. 

John Jastremski and Jason Goff have the on-field action covered with The Ringer’s Super Bowl Postgame Show, while The Press Box’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker will deliver their takes on everything besides the football—the commercials, the announcers, and, of course, the halftime show.

And for a little lighter take before pregame kicks off, check out the football-themed episode of Spotify Greenroom’s Dating Makeover, featuring The Ringer‘s Danny Heifetz as he joins show host Jared Freid to talk love and football.

Not sure where to begin? Tune into The Ringer NFL Show ahead of—and after—the Big Game. 

US Open Champ Sloane Stephens Shares the Music That Keeps Her Energized

August 27, 2021

As August comes to an end, one of tennis’s biggest events is just beginning: the 141st US Open, marking the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year. And making an appearance for her ninth year at the Open is American tennis pro and 2017 champion Sloane Stephens. 

After a year of empty fan stands and new challenges, Sloane is excited to be back in the game, following up on her 2017 US Open win and first Grand Slam tournament title. And to get herself and her fans in the competitive spirit, she’s even created an exclusive playlist for Spotify featuring positive, upbeat tracks that keep her energized and motivated both on and off the court. 

As Sloane takes on her fellow tennis pros, fans can stream her personal pump-up playlist Sloane in the City featuring artists like Ariana Grande, Cardi B, and Rayana Jay. The star athlete curated these songs based on current bops and all-time favorites, using them as her soundtrack during practice, workouts, and the quieter, more nerve-wracking moments of competition.

For the Record caught up with Sloane between sets to ask her about her life as a professional tennis player and the music that keeps her on her A game. 

You’re returning to compete in the US Open. How does it feel?

It’s always great to be back in New York! I love playing here, and I really feed off the energy of the city, so it will be great to have the crowd back out here with us.

How do you get in the right mindset before a match?

I like to meet with my coach the night before to discuss the game plan and any specific strategy so that once I wake up on match day, I can lock in. There can be a lot of “hurry up and wait” in tournament schedules depending on the weather or how long the match before mine takes, so it’s important to keep relaxed and be comfortable with changes. Music helps me stay centered and tune out the distractions. 

Where does music fit into your daily routine?

I’m always on the go and music is a staple in my routine. When I’m getting ready, training, recovering, or traveling, there is always music playing from my phone. Since I travel all the time for my job and tennis is such a global sport, I’m constantly being introduced to new songs. I think it’s a great way to connect with people and learn about what’s popular in their culture. Even if you don’t speak the language somewhere, everyone can recognize a good song. 

Any favorite songs or artists when you’re training?

Ariana Grande. She is my favorite artist, so whenever I’m training, she’s right there with me. My team laughs because I even play her slower songs in the middle of tough workouts, but she always keeps me going. I just love her! 

How do you like to wind down from a day of competition? 

Sometimes I’ll finish a match and press after midnight, or time zones are playing with me, and I’ll have to find a way to unwind so I can sleep and have a productive next day. Over the years, I’ve discovered how important self-care rituals are to this process, and I created a routine that I can do anywhere in the world. After a nice meal, I’ll take a long shower and drop my essential oils into the steam to create a spa moment. After that, I’ll light a candle and do my skin care routine, which usually includes a face mask. When I’m winding down the vibe is peaceful, and I play artists like Rayana Jay, Samaria, and VanJess.

Talk us through curating this playlist. Any recommendations on how listeners can get the most out of your song choices?

I worked on this playlist for a few weeks and added whatever came to mind at that time. It’s a mix of current hits and artists and songs I’ve always loved. I’m all about positive energy, so whether it’s a song from 30 years ago or yesterday, if the vibe is right, it stays with me. I usually put my playlist on shuffle and let it flow. 

Are there any songs on the playlist that have a special meaning? 

I have memories with so many of the songs on this playlist, and I’m sure a lot of listeners do, too. Specifically related to the US Open, “Bodak Yellow” by Cardi B takes me back. After I won in 2017, we blasted it on repeat in the car the entire drive back into the city. The song had just come out earlier that summer, and when I hear it now, it brings me back to that specific time and place. 

Ready to press shuffle? Listen to Sloane’s positive energy playlist, Sloane in the City, below. 

Live Audio Is Here: ‘Spotify: For the Record’ Explores the New Spotify Greenroom App

July 15, 2021

On this week’s episode of our podcast Spotify: For the Record, we look at the live audio space to see where it’s headed and how Greenroom is part of the equation.

Earlier this year, we introduced Spotify Greenroom, our new live audio app. Available on iOS and Android in over 135 markets, the app offers creators and users a whole new way to connect. From real-time sports reactions to instant interactions with your favorite artist, live audio is providing a new avenue for listeners to engage with content that interests them. 

On the podcast, Spotify’s Head of Creation Platform, Michael Mignano, brings us up to speed on live audio and the appeal of joining the conversations taking place in these virtual rooms. Next, mixed martial arts journalist and The Ringer’s Ariel Helwani shares how he’s using Greenroom as a way to provide live sporting event coverage and connect with an international audience. Finally, Hot Pod News founder Nick Quah talks about the live audio medium, how it differs from traditional podcasting, and where he expects it to go from here.

Get all the details by listening to “Spotify Greenroom & the Future of Live Audio.”

NFL Star Saquon Barkley Talks Football and His Top Sports Podcasts

January 23, 2020

Saquon Barkley knows football. Thanks to his success on and off the field, he’s become a household name—and personality—in both collegiate and professional football. He’s also expanding his talents to other areas by partnering with Spotify to curate a playlist of his favorite football podcasts. Now you can be as in the know as he is, and just in time for the season to start.

Saquon spent three seasons as an All-American running back for the Penn State Nittany Lions, breaking records and garnering acclaim as one of college football’s most promising athletes. More recently, he was chosen second overall by the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL draft, where he was awarded Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019.

Now Saquon is hooking up fans with all the best football podcasts. We sat down with him to chat about streaming podcasts on the go, the teammate he thinks should host his own talk show, and more.

During the course of a season you’re constantly on the move. How do you keep up with the latest news around the league?

I used to be able to watch TV and listen to a few radio shows, but we’re on the go so much that plugging in a podcast is the most efficient way. I need a source that allows me the flexibility to choose when I can tune in, and podcasts allow me to do that. I usually don’t have the opportunity to listen live, so being able to go back to recorded episodes that I can catch up on at home, in the car, heading to practice, or traveling for away games is great.

Why should die-hard football fans try podcasts?

I think we’re in the infancy of podcasting, and it’s only going to gain popularity. It’s another form of information, and if you’re a die-hard fan, why wouldn’t you want more? Football shows are great for getting broad stats, updates, and news, but what’s cool about podcasts is that if you’re really into fantasy or a certain topic, there’s usually a niche podcast out there that you can find and really familiarize yourself with.

What are your favorite football or sports podcasts to listen to, and why?

I love Pardon My Take. Any time you get different opinions I like to hear both sides, and I enjoy the arguing. Also, The Pat McAfee Show 2.0 is hilarious. I think he’s great. He’s got an interesting perspective because he played football. He understands the game and also has an amazing personality. It’s a great combination.

Which of your teammates do you think should have his own podcast? Why?

Sterling Shepherd. He’s hilarious. I think it would be nonstop laughs. 

What non-football podcasts do you listen to?

The Brilliantly Dumb Show. Robby Berger is amazing. In his podcast he covers sports but also goes beyond to share funny stories and experiences he has encountered in everyday life. One of my favorite episodes is episode 31, “Bobby Baseline and the Hardwood Boys.” Gives an amazing description of when we first met. It had me dying, he’s so funny.

What’s your go-to jam to get in the right headspace before a big game?

Anything Drake really, he always gets me in my bag. 

Stream Saquon’s playlist for a podcast touchdown.