Tag: spotify for artists

Five Artists Reflect on Five Years of Spotify in India, Reaching New Fans, and the ‘True Power’ of Music

March 20, 2024

Since launching in India in 2019, Spotify has opened up opportunities for artists and creators across the country and established new ways for listeners to discover and consume audio. Five years later, we’re now the most-loved audio-streaming platform in India, especially among Gen Z and millennials.

We kicked off our anniversary celebrations earlier this month by taking a look at the impact we’ve had over the last five years, from Indian music and podcast consumption habits to the most-exported Indian artists. For the country’s artist community, the results speak for themselves.

Spotify’s presence in India has connected talented local artists with global audiences, helping share their music far and wide. Today, more listeners than ever are discovering Indian artists around the world—in 2023, the global consumption of music from India grew by 85% year-over-year. And in fact, Indian musician Arijit Singh is the third-most-followed artist on Spotify worldwide.

Spotify has also deeply invested in educating Indian artists about Spotify for Artists, a platform that empowers artists by showing them how their music is being consumed and helping them better connect with fans. Today, more than 28,000 artists from India use Spotify for Artists, which is more than double what it was a year ago.

For the Record sat down with five artists—Anuv Jain, King, Jasleen Royal, Armaan Malik, and Jonita Gandhi—who’ve been with Spotify from the beginning of our journey in India to hear how they’ve found new audiences and created deeper connections.

Anuv Jain

Anuv Jain is one of India’s most popular independent music artists. His 2018 single “Baarishein” put him on the map. The singer-songwriter from Punjab relies almost solely on acoustics and soulful lyrics, drawing inspiration from his own life experiences.

How do you think Spotify has helped advance your career?

I am not sure whether people know this, but my music has been up on Spotify since before the platform even launched in India. So, we’ve had a long relationship. I think Spotify listeners want to explore a lot more music, as well as different genres, and that has definitely helped me out. All things considered, I think Spotify has helped me reach so many people, and I am truly grateful for that.

Share a story that highlights how Spotify has changed the way you connect with fans.

Spotify has given me a platform to gauge how my audience is perceiving my music, the age group my audience belongs to, the cities I have the most listenership from, the countries I have managed to tap into, and so much more. This informs the way I connect with my audience. Since my audience mostly includes millennial and Gen Z listeners, this influences the way I communicate with them on my social platforms, the content I put out, and the cities I want to visit and perform at. I just concluded my tour in the U.K. and Ireland, which happened because we found out that I have great listenership in the region. We sold out both shows in London, as well as the Dublin and Manchester shows!

King

After his 2019 breakthrough on the Indian reality show MTV Hustle, rapper and pop star King has delivered a slew of hits. His Hindi-language track “Maan Meri Jaan” was the most-streamed song of 2023 in India on Spotify, and he also teamed up with Nick Jonas on a bilingual remix, “Maan Meri Jaan (Afterlife).”

How do you think Spotify has helped advance your career?

Spotify has been a crucial part of my story ever since its algorithms and playlists took my song “Tu Aake Dekhle” and shared it with listeners around the country and the world. It has helped me not only connect with my Kingsclan, but also attract new fans who have supported me and my music unconditionally.

Share a story that highlights how Spotify has changed the way you connect with fans.

The fact that countless people have reached out to me over the years mentioning how they’ve found a safe space within my music always ends up reminding me of the true power of music and how it reaches people like I could’ve never imagined. I’m grateful for being able to share my music through this platform and being able to touch the lives of people in even the smallest way possible.

Jasleen Royal

Jasleen Royal is a self-taught singer-songwriter-composer who broke onto the scene in 2009 as a semifinalist on India’s Got Talent. She’s since built an impressive music career, including composing a number of hit Bollywood tracks.

How do you think Spotify has helped advance your career?

Spotify connected me to my fans, allowing me to share my music with them directly. It has given me exceptional reach across the world. Also, Spotify for Artists offers insights into how your songs are performing—and where—allowing you to use that information to plan even better.

Share a story that highlights how Spotify has changed the way you connect with fans.

I remember when my track “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” suddenly picked up years after its release. With Spotify for Artists, I was able to see the spike in streams—which otherwise would have gone unnoticed—and study where it was coming from. These kinds of statistics are very insightful for an artist.

Armaan Malik

Armaan Malik got his start as a child singer in Bollywood. After cementing his position in the Indian music industry, the singer-songwriter forayed into the global circuit with his 2020 debut English single, “Control.” In 2022, he even teamed up with Ed Sheeran on a remix of “2step.”

How do you think Spotify has helped advance your career?

Spotify has revolutionized my career. Its vast reach and the remarkable surge in listenership it enables has unlocked opportunities in countries I never even imagined reaching. Beyond the numbers, it’s the authentic connections with listeners from all walks of life that has been truly transformative. Spotify has been instrumental in shaping my pop career, catapulting it to thrilling new heights.

Share a story that highlights how Spotify has changed the way you connect with fans.

A fantastic method of engaging with fans and expanding my audience is through curated playlists, particularly those crafted by artists themselves. One example is my own playlist, Hooked. It not only showcases my personal music preferences but also serves as a platform for teasing upcoming releases through clever hints and hidden surprises. It’s been an innovative way to connect with fans and keep them excited about what’s next in my musical journey. Another great feature is Clips, which can enhance the storytelling, adding more layers to the song within the ecosystem.

Jonita Gandhi

Born in New Delhi and raised in Toronto, Jonita Gandhi’s Canadian and Indian heritage helped shape her diverse musical palette. Today, the artist is an acclaimed multilingual singer who has recorded songs for some of India’s biggest movies. Earlier this year, she released her debut EP, Love Like That.

How do you think Spotify has helped advance your career?

Spotify has really helped me understand who’s listening to my music and what they’re resonating with. As a versatile artist, it’s sometimes hard to know who’s invested in my music, but Spotify has helped me tap into my true fans.

Share a story that highlights how Spotify has changed the way you connect with fans.

The first billboard I was featured on in my hometown of Toronto and in New York City’s Times Square was part of a Spotify campaign. I really believe that changed the way I connected with my audience, especially internationally. It made me feel seen and it was a full-circle experience.

Dive into our I-Pop Superhits playlist to discover some of the hottest pop music from Indian artists.

How Spotify Made Wrapped More Valuable Than Ever for Artists

November 29, 2023

When 2023 Spotify Wrapped rolls around each year, it’s as much of an event for artists as it is for fans. With Artist Wrapped, musicians can check out a personalized recap of their Spotify stats showing when, where, and how listeners engaged with them on Spotify. 

Since launching Artist Wrapped in 2017, we’ve worked to make this moment bigger and better with each go around, adding data stories with deeper insights, integrations that provide more ways to connect with fans, and delightful moments that extend beyond the core Wrapped experience. 2023 is no exception, and we’re excited for artists to dig into this year’s edition.

“I’m most excited about our efforts to make Artist Wrapped, and Wrapped in general, even more valuable and impactful to artists’ careers this year,” says Rob Fink, Associate Director, Spotify for Artists Brand Marketing. “We’ve built upon many of the foundations established over the past few years so that Wrapped is truly a global platform for artists to effectively connect with their fans.”

Curious what artists can expect from Wrapped this year? For the Record sat down with Rob to get all the details. 

Just like fans, artists love their Wrapped data stories. What can they expect this year?

As usual, we’ll have all the tried-and-true stories artists have come to expect, like total listeners, total number of streams, and total time streamed. But this year, artists can now find out how many listeners discovered them for the first time in 2023. The idea is they can use this data to better understand their listeners and pick out opportunities to expand their audience.

We’re also giving artists more insight into their top fans. Previously we’ve shown artists the number of fans who had them as a top 10, top five, or number one top artist. But this year, we’re also showing artists the average amount of time that each of their top 0.001% fans spent listening to them. This is the first time we’ve ever shown artists a story about the listening time of their very biggest fans, and some of the numbers are quite eye-opening.

Finally, we’re expanding our merch data story to share an artist’s three bestselling items since empowering artist merch stores on Spotify has continued to be a priority for us. We’ve also added a story that reveals the three locations where an artist sold the most concert tickets in 2023. 

Spotify for Artists Associate Brand Marketing Director Rob Fink

Last year’s Wrapped resulted in Spotify’s biggest merch sales week to date. How did Spotify incorporate those learnings into 2023 Wrapped?

Beyond connecting with their top fans, we want Wrapped to be a moment for artists to earn additional revenue as well. And one big thing we’ve learned is that when artists create unique merch offers on Spotify, those tend to outperform the rest.

That’s why this year, for the first time ever, we enabled artists [in the U.S. and Canada] to set up Wrapped-specific merch discounts for their top listeners of the year. We want artists to be able to offer fans something special, and in turn, fans will know they’re receiving a discount for being a top listener.

We’ve also made artists’ merch and ticket offers even more visible by adding them to more places within fans’ Wrapped experience. Listeners will receive personalized offers from their top artists when they open Wrapped, and we’ll also continue to promote those offers via in-app messaging, emails, and beyond after Wrapped launches to make sure fans don’t miss out. 

We also can’t forget about the songwriters and producers out there. What can they expect from their Wrapped this year?

Last year, we sent personalized share cards to all songwriters and producers who have active Written By playlists or Songwriter Pages on Spotify. This group has grown substantially since, and this year we’re introducing a dedicated Songwriter Wrapped microsite experience. We’re excited to continue making Wrapped even exciting for this extremely important audience.

We’re also testing out a new idea and launching a Songwriter Wrapped social campaign to show love to the music makers—regardless of whether they have a Written By playlist on Spotify yet. Artists and music fans alike can fill in the blanks on their favorite songwriters, producers, lyrics, and beats from 2023 to acknowledge and celebrate the creativity and work from their top creators.

Is there anything else you’ve been keeping under wraps?

We’re testing something this year that we’re calling Wrapped Listening Parties. We’ve teamed up with a small handful of artists who will host invite-only live audio rooms for top fans where everyone can interact and listen to music together. Artists will also be able to promote their merch offers there as well. The idea is to put our listening data to good use and offer unique ways for artists and fans to connect on a personal level.

Ready to check out your Artist Wrapped? Head over to Spotify for Artists to get started.

Top EQUAL Artist INNA Reflects On a Standout Year

November 29, 2023

Top EQUAL Artist INNA Dance Cover

Today we kicked off 2023 Spotify Wrapped, our annual campaign that celebrates fans and creators worldwide. And as the good vibes keep coming, we look back on a successful year of EQUAL, which included speaking events, festivals, and both local and global playlists featuring a large roster of talented EQUAL ambassadors. We’re thrilled to announce that Romanian superstar INNA is the most-streamed artist within the EQUAL Global playlist in 2023.

In 2020, Spotify created EQUAL, a global initiative that aims to eliminate the existing gender gap in the music industry so that women artists, composers, and producers have the representation and visibility they deserve. Since then, week after week, we’ve been raising the volume on women artists locally and internationally. 

Along with being named an EQUAL Global ambassador back in April, INNA had quite a landmark 2023. Her Dhurata Dora and Stefflon Don collaborations for the track “Yummy” pleased fans—as did the release of a 10-song EP of remixes for her revival of the 1997 Sash! hit “Rock My Body.” The house music star also released a two-part studio album, Just Dance #DQH1 and Just Dance #DQH2, which showcases an ambitious new direction in the artist’s career, combining elements of other genres and sounds as part of the Dance Queen’s House project.

For the Record caught up with INNA to talk about being the top EQUAL artist, her Wrapped for Artists insights, and her plans for 2024.

What was your reaction to finding out that you’re this year’s top EQUAL artist?

It was a huge surprise! I want to thank everyone who listens to my music and supports me. It’s an absolute honor to have so many people who are there for me. As an artist, this is the love I need to feel! I’m so happy about this!

How has dance music changed since your debut single, “Hot,” topped the charts in 2009? EQUAL Top Artist INNA

There are more and more dance artists in the world now, and a lot of DJs doing dance and EDM songs. It’s an expanding genre that has seen and will continue to see a lot of growth.

I’ve also changed quite a lot. In that time I made it a point to experience different collaborations, genres, and sounds in my music. 

What were some of your 2023 highlights?

2023 was such a great year. My collaboration with R3HAB for “Rock My Body” conquered the charts and became a hit. I released a new album, Just Dance, featuring the music I worked on for the Dance Queen’s House project. And, of course, so many concerts. I couldn’t be more grateful for all that’s happened in 2023. Bring it on, 2024! I’m ready for you!

Tell us about Just Dance, which you’ve previously described as a refresh from your past and an important step in your evolution as an artist.

When we started, we were brainstorming, thinking how this album should sound. And overall we felt that we needed a different vibe and a whole new approach, so we changed the dynamic. I’m honestly super excited about how it all came together. The album complements my 2023 tour on the stages of the biggest electro dance festivals in the world.

What insights have you been able to take away from previous years of Artist Wrapped?

A white background with INNA walking

My team and I always pay attention to everything to improve our work. We work hard to make the most out of the Artist Wrapped insights to create more and more music that resonates with more people.

Which women artists do you currently have in your On Repeat playlist?

I always have P!nk on repeat, she is fabulous, one of my favorite artists ever. Some other women artists are ROSALÍA, FKA Twigs, Billie Eilish, Dhurata Dora, and SZA.

Going into the New Year, what advice do you have for other artists?

Consistency, focus, creativity, inspiration, and a lot of work are important. Surround yourself with people who share the same vibe as you. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun!

What do you have planned for 2024?

There will be a lot of new music coming in 2024. I’ll be releasing a new album written entirely in Spanish. It’s one of the releases I can’t wait for, because it’s an important part of my work and soul and I’ve been working on it for several years. And of course, I’ll be kicking off a tour in the USA in addition to performing concerts in Mexico and Europe.

Listen to the best of the best from the dance queen herself in our This Is INNA playlist.

Shop for Merch From Your Favorite Artists in Spotify’s New Hub

October 16, 2023

When new merch drops, fans don’t hesitate. We’ve seen that in the days and weeks after an artist releases shirts, totes, hats, vinyl, and more, fans flock to their Spotify profiles to get what’s new. So to give the fans what they want—and make it easier than ever for listeners to browse and shop for merch from their favorite artists—we’re unveiling a dedicated Merch Hub in the Spotify app. 

Sporting merch from your favorite artists is a vital part of music culture, and our new Merch hub provides personalized merch recommendations based on your listening habits. Previously, we made artist merch available from individual artist profiles, the Now Playing view, and release pages. Instead of having to browse artist by artist, this update makes it easier than ever to access all artist merch in one place. From the hub, you can browse, click on available items to learn more, and then purchase through the artist’s Spotify store, powered by Shopify. 

Connecting listeners with ways to rep their favorite fandoms and lend support to the artists they love is key to fulfilling our mission of enabling artists to live off their art. Last year, after seeing their Wrapped results, listeners flocked to buy merch, leading to the highest-grossing merch sales week for artists in Spotify history. Spoiler alert: There are plenty more merch moments in store for Wrapped this year!

Now you can find artists’ merch in the Merch tab on their artist pages, the Now Playing view when streaming their tracks, the new Merch Hub, and their albums, EPs, and singles pages.

Ready to shop? Simply search “Merch” to find the hub, or head to the Merch tile on the Browse page. Or click here to go directly to the Merch Hub. Artists can go to artists.spotify.com/merch to learn more about getting their merch on Spotify through our Shopify integration. 

Countdown Pages and Spotify Clips Create Ways for Artists To Engage Their Fans With Video

March 8, 2023

Today at Spotify Stream On, artists, songwriters, podcasters, and authors from around the world joined us for a day of announcements and inspiration. They also took part in hands-on demonstrations of tools and resources coming from Spotify, including new ways for artists to connect with fans and hype their work using Spotify for Artists.

Countdown Pages

Building buzz for an album release requires artists and their teams to work across multiple platforms and services, resulting in a disconnect between where music is being teased and where music is actually being streamed.

The most powerful time to reach fans is when they’ve chosen to engage with music, ahem, on Spotify. That’s why we’ve built a new tool called Countdown Pages.

Countdown Pages are dedicated spaces for artists to build anticipation for new albums. On Countdown Pages, fans can watch exclusive video clips, pre-save the upcoming release, preview the track list, and watch the timer count down to the release moment. 

Plus, fans who pre-save an album release will receive a notification as soon as the release drops. We’ll also automatically add the album to a listener’s library, ensuring that more fans start streaming on day one. In early tests, on average, over 80% of pre-savers streamed the new release within the first week.

Want to check out a Countdown Page? Visit Ed Sheeran’s artist profile on your Spotify mobile app and scroll down to the Upcoming Releases section to pre-save his forthcoming album “–”.

Spotify Clips

We could not be more excited to bring Countdown Pages to life—but we don’t want to limit artists’ video options to Countdown Pages. So, we’re making them available in more places where music lives on Spotify. 

Artists can add under-30-second videos to their album pages or their artist profiles. That way, new listeners and existing fans can go deeper into an artist’s stories while they’re listening. We call these videos Spotify Clips.

With Clips, new listeners will be able to get to know an artist and their music better, while loyal fans will be able to dive even deeper into an artist’s music, forging even stronger connections. The possibilities are expansive, with Clips enabling artists to build excitement for an unreleased song, promote a new album or single, tell the story behind a song, and much more. We’re unlocking this feature for thousands of artists this week, and we’ll be opening it up to more and more artists in waves throughout the spring. 

Learn more about these tools on Spotify for Artists.

Three Campaign Tools From Spotify for Artists To Build Your Fan Base

March 8, 2023

Today at Spotify Stream On, artists, songwriters, podcasters, and authors from around the world joined us for a day of announcements and inspiration. They also took part in hands-on demonstrations of tools and resources coming from Spotify, including new ways for artists to promote their work and strengthen their fan bases using Spotify for Artists. 

How artists can get more listeners and increase their reach with Discovery Mode

One-third of all new artist discoveries on Spotify happen thanks to personalized recommendations. With Discovery Mode, artists and their teams can identify priority songs, and Spotify will add a signal to the algorithms that shape personalized listening sessions, helping to increase the likelihood that the song is recommended to listeners on Radio and Autoplay. Every month, artists receive reporting on how many new listeners their selected songs reached, how many added them to playlists, and how often the songs were saved.

On average, within a song’s first month of Discovery Mode use, we’ve seen listeners save those songs 50% more often, add them to playlists 44% more, and follow the artist 37% more. Those results have stayed strong as we’ve scaled up the program.

So now, we’re ready to take that one step further. Today, Discovery Mode is available directly within Spotify for Artists. Now, thousands of independently distributed artists and labels will have access to Discovery Mode. 

How artists can turn listeners into fans with Marquee

Marquee is a full-screen sponsored recommendation of a new release to listeners across Spotify Free and Premium. It enables artist teams to reach listeners who have shown interest in the artist’s music before. It’s already a big part of artists’ and labels’ release strategies and is one of the most effective tools out there to market new releases. 

We recently worked with marketers across eight labels and distributors to find out just how much more effective Marquee is than leading off-platform marketing options. We found that, on average, Marquee delivers ten times more Spotify listeners for every dollar spent on similar social ads.

Marquee has already been available for all U.S. artist teams in Spotify for Artists, and starting this week, we began rolling it out to artist teams in the U.K. and Australia as well.

Showcase the music that matters most to you

We’re also excited to introduce you to Showcase, a new marketing tool we’re testing. It will appear as a mobile card on Home and will introduce an artist’s music—whether a new release or catalog—to likely listeners. We’re just starting to test Showcase with artists and labels and will make it more widely available in the near future.

With the addition of Showcase, Spotify for Artists now offers artists and their teams a robust suite of promotional tools. Artists can reach listeners right when they’re deciding what to listen to, target listeners based on their streaming history, and access data that tells them how the tools performed. 

Streaming has already democratized access to music for listeners. With these new tools, we’re democratizing access to marketing for artists. No matter an artist’s career stage or budget, we’re helping more artists market their music at scale—something that has never before been possible in this industry. 

Learn more about these tools on Spotify for Artists.

Get To Know Dxrk ダーク, the Phonk Artist Taking Electronic Music by Storm

February 14, 2023

If there’s any artist who can say they had a big year, it’s Dxrk ダーク. Starting 2022 as an unknown entity, the Algerian phonk producer ended the year as the most-streamed artist from the Middle East and North Africa globally. 

Last year alone, his tracks were streamed more than 232 million times by more than 19 million listeners in 182 countries, with the U.S., Mexico, and Germany representing his top markets. In total, fans streamed nearly 9 million hours of Dxrk ダーク’s music in 2022.

With fans from nearly every corner of the world flocking to his sound, Dxrk ダーク saw his monthly streams increase by 1,200% last year, and 43,000% since he released his first track, in July 2021. He’s appeared on the viral charts in 93 different nations, reaching number one in 26 of those countries and number three on the Viral 50 – Global chart. 

Dxrk ダーク’s sharp rise to fame began with the release of his hit “RAVE,” which was featured on playlists like phonk, Top Gaming Tracks, Ultra Gaming, and Hits de Internet. Since that breakout moment, “RAVE” has eclipsed 200 million streams, and Dxrk ダーク was even tapped by global pop star Sam Smith for a remix.

For the Record had the opportunity to chat with Dxrk ダーク recently, and we took the time to find out more about his inspirations, his life as a newly minted star, and what fans can expect in 2023.

What makes phonk unique compared to other genres?

Phonk is more than a genre to me. It’s a movement encompassing many different genres. Many people look at it as aggressive house music, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Because it’s more tied to the use of cowbells and Memphis rap-inspired vocals, you can utilize all types of dance music. It doesn’t just have to have a house sound. It just has to be raw and emotional.

What was it about phonk that inspired you to embrace the genre when it comes to your own music?

I discovered phonk in early 2017 and it wasn’t the way it is now. There’s such a grim and dark atmosphere while listening to it. My first thought was, “How can you make this dancy?”

2022 was a massive year for you in terms of new fans all over the world discovering your music. What does it feel like to have this global fan base? Were you expecting to reach this level of stardom?

It’s surreal. I never could have imagined a moment like this. But it also comes with a lot of pressure. I have a lot of people depending on me now. Every step matters.

Are there any Spotify tools you like to use to learn more about listeners? Has there been any information that’s surprised you?

Spotify for Artists is my holy grail. I choose it over any other analytic device. I watch the Audience Engagement tab religiously. It blows my mind to see how many people have added me to their personal playlists and just how big that space is in general.

Was there a specific moment where you felt like you “made it”?

There are two specific moments that come to mind. When “RAVE” hit the Global Viral 50, that’s when I first knew my life was forever changed.

But I think it became very real when Sam Smith’s team reached out to me to remix “Unholy,” which features Kim Petras and was one of the biggest hits on the planet last year.

Did you do anything or buy anything special to celebrate your successes this year?

I bought a couple of cars. A SEAT Cupra and a VW Golf 7.

Are there any artists you’re inspired by? Are there any artists you’d like to work with?

My main inspiration is Daft Punk and I wish they were still active. They’re my dream collaboration.

What can fans expect from you in 2023?

I have more major remixes planned, but I also owe my fans an album. It’s way overdue. Very excited to show them what I’ve been working on. 

Take a deeper dive into the ominous phonk sounds of Dxrk ダーク with his playlist This Is Dxrk ダーク.

 

Spotify’s New Fresh Finds Program Helps Independent Artists Build Their Careers

May 26, 2021

For independent artists, sometimes all it takes is having a song in the right place at the right time for a legion of new fans to discover your music. Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist serves as this type of launch pad for up-and-coming artists who are beginning their careers. 

The playlist, which started in 2016, now has 10 accompanying playlists that have specific focuses, like Fresh Finds: Experimental and Fresh Finds: Latin. These playlists are the place for fan and industry tastemakers alike to find the next big thing in music. Since its launch, Fresh Finds has featured more than 25,000 artists, like Clairo, Omar Apollo, and 100 gecs, who have seen their music take off after their songs were included on the list. Spotify data even shows that artists featured on Fresh Finds see their average monthly listeners increase by 108% in the 28 days following their addition to the playlist. 

Now, Spotify is taking its support of these independent artists to the next level with the Fresh Finds program. Building off the success of the playlist, this new program focuses on giving developing artists the tools and educational resources needed for long-term career success. 

“Independent artists are at the forefront of what’s next in music,” says Rachel Ring, Music Marketing Manager at Spotify. “It’s vital that we continue to create space and opportunities for this wide-ranging group of artists, meet them where they are, provide tools for them to have agency over their careers, and give them a voice in our marketing campaigns.” 

Over the span of six to eight weeks, artists in the program have access to one-on-one mentorship with members of Spotify and a personalized Masterclass to learn how to best use Spotify for Artists tools (like Canvas and Marquee). There will also be collaboration opportunities with songwriters and producers set up in partnership with Noteable, Spotify’s Songwriter and Publishing Relations team. At the end of the program, each of the four groups of artists and producers/songwriters will release an original Spotify Singles track. The collaboration process will be documented through a social content series so fans can follow along as the tracks are created and see the songs come to life.

“It was important for us to build an ecosystem around the artists we’re working with to ensure they have the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in the short and long term,” continues Rachel. “At the end of this program we want our Fresh Finds artists to leave with a fluency in Spotify’s tools, a connection with other creators, growth across a wide range of new fans, and deeper engagement within their existing fan base.”

Spotify has announced the inaugural four independent artists chosen for the Fresh Finds program. Get to know them below.

Wallice

Wallice, who first started writing songs in middle school, has a sweet and nostalgic sound with a rowdy edge. After completing a year at the New School’s Jazz Vocal Performance program in NYC, the California native moved back to the West Coast to focus on her music. Her first single, 2020’s “Punching Bag,” was influenced by the favorites of her youth (Weezer and Lana Del Rey), as well as her current role models (Vampire Weekend and The Drums). Wallice will be paired with songwriter and producer marinelli and producer Ariel Rechtshaid for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

Unusual Demont

Unusual Demont is a Wisconsin native whose music is effortlessly forward-thinking. His grandfather, who was the drummer for R&B and soul legend Curtis Mayfield, has influenced his work, but the artist also finds inspiration from other sources, ranging from K-Pop to Frank Ocean. Unusual Demont originally started honing his skills as a rapper, but has shifted to singing with a more eclectic pop sound, which can be heard in his 2020 single “Amber.” Unusual Demont will be collaborating with producer Kieran Watters, professionally known as “The Idiot,” for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

Julia Wolf

Julia Wolf hails from Queens in New York City. She’s a singer-songwriter and visual artist whose confident and left-of-center vision for pop music has built her an already rabid fan base since she released her music on social media in 2019. The classically trained pianist had her breakout moment with the single “Hoops,” defying genre conventions with her stream-of-conscious lyrics and unforgettable hooks. Julia will be working with songwriter and producer Jackson Foote for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

 

EKKSTACY

Canadian singer-songwriter EKKSTACY has found refuge in his music. After a challenging youth that included his parents’ divorce and alcohol abuse, the artist turned to writing and recording music as a way to share his thoughts and feelings. EKKSTACY, who was influenced by the work of Elliott Smith, Bon Iver, and Bedroom, describes his music as fusing elements of indie, post-punk, and synth wave. The artist’s unique sound can be heard in tracks like “i walk this earth all by myself.” EKKSTACY will be paired with Jonny Pierce of The Drums for the Fresh Finds program’s song collaboration.

These artists are only the first to benefit from Fresh Finds, and they won’t be the last. But how to choose who’s next? 

“To select these artists, we utilized a combination of data and editorial decision-making, with our Editorial and Artist & Label Partnerships teams choosing artists for the program that are showing momentum both on and off Spotify,” says Rachel. “Ultimately, we don’t have formalized qualification criteria because being a developing artist is undefinable, and career growth can mean different things to different artists. Our gut instincts are based on what we think is the beginning of an amazing career.”  

Alongside the program’s launch, Spotify is releasing 13 new regional Fresh Finds playlists in Brazil, Spain, Australia/NZ, UK/IE, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore/Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Italy, Germany/Switzerland/Austria, South Korea, and Turkey to further our mission of disseminating the music of developing artists on a global scale.

Follow the four Fresh Finds artists to be the first to hear their new Spotify Singles, releasing on June 23. In the meantime, discover new music from independent artists in our Fresh Finds playlist below. 

You Can Now Use Spotify to Find Your Favorite Artists’ Virtual Events

September 15, 2020

Over the past six months, artists have adopted innovative ways to connect with their listeners from afar, and virtual performances have played a key role. With most tours postponed until 2021 and online concerts set to continue, Spotify wants to make it easy for fans to learn about virtual events—whether for artists you already love or for those you’re discovering for the very first time.

Starting today, listeners will be able to find virtual event listings on Spotify. Head to the “On Tour” section of your favorite artists’ profiles for their scheduled performances or take a look at the full listings on our Concerts hub. Both will integrate event listings for shows on any platform—whether that’s Twitch, Instagram Live, YouTube Live, a hosted website, or something else—through ticketing partners like Songkick and Ticketmaster.

Head to the Concerts hub (you can find it under Browse on desktop and Search on mobile), or scroll through your favorite artist’s profile to find the “On Tour” section. And keep checking your inbox for our personalized virtual event recommendation emails for musicians we know you’ll love.

Read more about the feature on Spotify for Artists.

3 Ways To Feel Close to Your Favorite Artists While Social Distancing

August 13, 2020

Live shows and touring are paused for the time being, but your favorite creators are likely still doing what they do best: being creative. Even without in-person concerts or fan events, artists are finding plenty of ways to engage fans remotely and digitally. That means there’s also many opportunities for listeners to connect with artists and support them (beyond streaming their music for your private dance party).  

Check out three tips on ways to support, share, and stay connected from our Spotify for Artists blog.

Tip 1: Share Their Songs to Your Socials

What better way to support an artist than by recruiting fans? After all, sharing is caring. With just the tap of a button, you can copy a link to send the song you’re streaming via SMS, Messenger, Twitter, WhatsApp, or email. Or, you can go further by sharing the track on your Facebook and Instagram stories, as well as on Snapchat. These integrations allow your friends and followers to preview a 15-second clip of the track in the app and gives them the option to click through to play it from their own Spotify apps.  Learn more about how to share songs here.

Tip 2: Share Their Canvas to Your Instagram Story

Since launching our Canvas beta, which turns formerly static song pages into mesmerizing video-art showcases, artists all over Spotify have been giving their work new depth with the help of eight-second visual loops. For example, Poppy used her Canvas to heighten the otherworldliness of tracks on her new album, I Disagree, while Billie Eilish added fan art to her songs as a salute to listeners around the world. Canvas sharing is currently available to all Spotify users—listeners and artists alike—so when anyone shares a track from the app to their Instagram Story, the Canvas will show up for all to see. Take a look at the steps to share a Canvas to your Instagram here, and spread your favorite artist’s creative genius even further.

Tip 3: Check Out Their Virtual Events 

During this time, many artists have turned to livestreamed concerts, which they perform from the comfort of their living rooms or backyards. Some have even used these events as a way to make money or raise funds for a charitable cause. These virtual concerts give fans around the world a chance to tune in to an artist’s social channels to hear their favorite songs performed live.

But virtual concerts aren’t the only way to support or engage with musicians. Many are using the power of technology not only to perform, but also to host Q&A sessions, listening parties, talk shows—and in some cases, even offer guitar lessons. Check out what some artists have been doing to stay connected to their fans—and don’t forget to follow your favorites on Spotify for email updates and phone notifications for their upcoming digital events. 

Hear from Katy Perry, as well as other creators, on how they are staying connected to fans during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spotify: For the Record’s latest podcast episode.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Cm9mnVLC4mwkD12RG4VIn?si=nwCh6Sn_TNOYXNxurJK7Rw

3 Major Streaming Trends from Spotify’s First Year in India

February 27, 2020

It’s been exactly 12 months since Spotify launched in India, and my, how we’ve grown. There are now more than 6,400 Indian creators using Spotify for Artists, our platform that lets artists and their teams see who’s listening to their music and take control of their artist profile. Listeners from over 2,300 cities are tuning into more than 350 curated playlists in India—like New Music Hindi and Punjabi 101—and that’s up from 120 at launch. In honor of this anniversary, we dove into some of the trends and themes around a year’s worth of Spotify streaming in India. Here’s what we saw:

1. A lot of love for local artists

Spotify listeners in India have streamed over 130 artists each in the past year. Overall, we found that the top five most-streamed in the country are from India. Topping the list are three beloved Bollywood singers: Arijit Singh, Tanishk Bagchi, and Neha Kakkar. The age group of 35 to 44-year-olds stream Indian artists at a higher rate than any other.

Globally streamed hits are also very popular in India. The most-streamed international artist in India is Post Malone, who was also Spotify’s most-streamed global artist in 2019; BTS and Taylor Swift are popular with Indian listeners as well. The most-streamed track in India over the past year is the global smash “Señorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, followed by Arijit Singh and Mithoon’s “Tujhe Kitna Chahne Lage” and Sachet Tandon and Parampara Thakur’s “Bekhayali” (both from the soundtrack to the popular Indian film “Kabir Singh”).

2. Music sets the mood

Love songs are a major part of Indian culture, which is why Spotify’s Bollywood Mush playlist is one of the top-streamed playlists among users. Interestingly, listeners in the eastern part of the country—West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam, Bihar, and Sikkim—have streamed the playlist the most (it seems love rises in the east!).

What’s more, during Diwali, India’s biggest religious celebration, the holiday’s themed playlists—which lean heavily on songs about love and partying—got major traction on the festival’s peak day on October 27, 2019, with plays increasing by almost 4,400%.

 3. Pressing play on podcasts and pop

India has fired up its podcast lineup, launching its first three Spotify original podcasts in December 2019. 22 Yarns With Gaurav Kapur, Bhaskar Bose, and Love Aaj Kal with Aastha & Ankit were each produced in India to cater to an Indian audience. These podcasts, which are all about pop culture, including cricket, fiction thriller storytelling, and relationship advice, respectively, also made it to the top five on the original podcast charts. 

The top three music genres streamed across India are pop, filmi (music from popular Indian movies) and hip-hop. K-Pop also has a growing fan base: Spotify’s most-followed K-Pop playlist, K-Pop Daebak, is a popular choice for Indian listeners. And India is in the top 22% of K-Pop listening in all of Spotify’s markets globally, based on streaming from the past 90 days. 

From the top-streamed artists to the most popular podcasts in India, see how listening stacks up since we launched in February 2019.

Download the infographic here.

For the uninitiated, be sure to stream Spotify’s Top Hits Hindi playlist. 

Spotify Announces Acquisition of Global Audio Services Marketplace SoundBetter

September 12, 2019

Today, Spotify is excited to announce that we’re acquiring SoundBetter, a leading global music and audio production and collaboration marketplace. SoundBetter offers creators—including singers, songwriters, producers, mixing/mastering engineers, and session musicians—a place to connect with each other and hire services from fellow artists to create and perfect their tracks.

Because of its strong reputation and dedicated commitment to supporting all creators worldwide, SoundBetter already has more than 180,000 registered users in 176 countries and 14,000 cities across the globe. The acquisition reinforces the deep connection between Spotify and the broader music industry, as SoundBetter makes it easy for labels and artists to source a wide array of music services.

We sat down with the founders, CEO Shachar Gilad and CTO Itamar Yunger, to learn more about the company.

Shachar Gilad and Itamar Yunger

What are some of the benefits for artists who use SoundBetter?

Shachar: Imagine being in Japan and being able to hire a songwriter from LA who worked on your favorite song, or being in Germany and getting your track mixed by a Grammy Award winner from New York, or being in LA and having a string quartet from Hungary record tracks on your record. SoundBetter helps fill the gap between recording and distribution. It’s relatively easy to record music, but difficult to get your music to sound good enough for distribution. We connect artists with the top music pros who can help them sound the best that they can, so they can focus on whatever they do best, whether that’s songwriting, singing, or producing. 

At the same time we help music pros connect with clients from across the country and across the world they would never have met otherwise and earn a living.

How did you discover there was a need for something like SoundBetter?

Shachar: I had many friends who are engineers and producers who were interested in marketing to artists outside of their local or existing client base. They knew they had something to offer artists everywhere, but didn’t know how to reach them. At the same time, the number of artists self-producing has grown dramatically.

I realized both sides were looking for each other. Online marketplaces were increasingly addressing this type of fragmentation in other industries, and I decided to tackle this one because it was close to my heart.

What were the early days of SoundBetter like?

Itamar: We started with mixing and mastering engineers and expanded from there. We worked in true lean-startup fashion 15 hours a day to build the marketplace you’re familiar with today, including the talent discovery, payment system, file transfer, workroom and project management tools. 

The work paid off. We were fortunate that we focused on some of the right things. We earned trust and the marketplace grew. As time went by we realized more and more that musicians around the world were really looking for this kind of platform, and that what we built was solving a problem.

How has Spotify changed the audio industry, from your perspective? How does SoundBetter fit into that growth?

Itamar: The way Spotify made music accessible to billions of fans, allowing them to enjoy and be inspired by music, is fantastic. SoundBetter’s mission aligns perfectly with Spotify’s mission of helping creators live off their art. That has been our mission for years.

Shachar: Twenty years ago, only a handful of artists ever got to record any of their music. Now millions of artists are recording their music on digital audio workstations, and have the platform to make that music available to the whole world with Spotify. That is a tectonic shift. 

We’ve seen many songs produced with SoundBetter pros that each now have tens of millions of streams on Spotify. This collaboration will help drive more quality content to Spotify’s hundreds of millions of listeners while helping artists earn a living.

What are your goals and expectations for this new chapter with Spotify?

Shachar: We’re really thrilled at the opportunity to take SoundBetter to the next level with Spotify. One of the things that kept us going through this startup rollercoaster over the past few years is hearing stories from artists who tell us we’ve changed their lives. Talented folks who, thanks to SoundBetter, quit their day jobs and are doing music full time and earning a respectable living. We’ve heard endless personal stories like that, and there’s nothing more rewarding. We truly believe that with Spotify, we can make the number of artists who have such stories much, much bigger.

Itamar: A significant percentage of marketplace sales on the platform is international. Just think of what we will be able to do in the audio industry as a part of the Spotify brand. We are thrilled with that potential. 

Want to learn more? Check out the press release here and blog post from Spotify for Artists here.