Tag: The Michelle Obama Podcast

Celebrate Spotify’s Biggest Year for Podcasts This International Podcast Day

September 30, 2020

It’s only September, but Spotify has already seen our biggest year ever for podcasts. The number of new shows added to the platform this year increased by 240%* compared to 2019, and fans are spending more time streaming podcasts on Spotify than ever before. And since today (September 30) happens to be International Podcast Day, we’re celebrating the milestone by taking a look back at some of the podcasting trends of 2020, as well as debuting some new shows, podcast playlists, and features.

When it comes to podcasts . . .

  • Laughter is the best medicine. Comedy has been the top-ranking global podcast category this year to date, with Call Her Daddy, The Misfits, and Office Ladies dominating.
  • We’re keeping up with the Os. The Obamas, that is. The Michelle Obama Podcast from Higher Ground held its spot on the Trending Charts Top 10 globally longer than any other podcast since July 2020.
  • DIY podcasting is a growing field. Since last year’s International Podcast Day, new podcasts created on Anchor, Spotify’s all-in-one podcasting platform, have increased by more than 380%.*

And to keep the momentum going, Spotify will be celebrating International Podcast Day all week with new playlists, podcasts, and special features. Take a look:

  • 9/28: We’re releasing Best of 2020 So Far, a podcast playlist full of this year’s top pods, handpicked by Spotify’s editorial team.
  • 9/30: Parcast’s Blind Dating and Gimlet’s Resistance podcasts are dropping exclusively on Spotify.
    • No one has ever found love on a podcast until now, on Blind Dating, the new Spotify Original on Parcast. Hopeful singles listen to voices of potential matches before making their choices and having their identities revealed.
    • Gimlet’s new podcast Resistance offers stories from the front lines of the movement for Black lives, told by the generation fighting for change. Listen to the Resistance trailer now on Spotify.
  • 9/30: It’s International Podcast Day! Stream your favorite pod, and don’t forget to check out Instagram for our International Podcast Day filter. Plus, Spotify for Podcasters is going global for podcasters in Brazil and Mexico. Finally, the most passionate podcast users in English-speaking countries will receive push notifications letting them know that they are in the top 5% of podcast listeners on Spotify—surely something to celebrate.
  • 9/30–10/2: Creators like Jemele Hill, Ashley Flowers, and Reba McEntire will be “passing the mic” to spotlight the podcasts they love via their social channels, so stay tuned. 

*Numbers stated are from September 30, 2019, to June 30, 2020.

Higher Ground and Spotify Announce That the First Season of ‘The Michelle Obama Podcast’ Will Debut on Additional Platforms

September 29, 2020

Higher Ground and Spotify announced today that following the first season’s chart-topping exclusive run on Spotify, The Michelle Obama Podcast will be made available on a number of additional platforms beginning September 30. 

The series debuted exclusively on Spotify in July, and features Michelle Obama in deeply personal discussions with former President Barack Obama, Michele Norris, Dr. Sharon Malone MD, her brother Craig Robinson, Conan O’Brien, Denielle Pemberton-Heard, Kelly Dibble, Valerie Jarrett, and her mother Marian Robinson. Listeners will be able to enjoy the first season featuring former First Lady Michelle Obama and her candid conversations with these extraordinary guests.

Speaking about the podcast at its launch, Michelle Obama commented, “My hope is that this series can be a place to explore meaningful topics together and sort through so many of the questions we’re all trying to answer in our own lives. Perhaps most of all, I hope this podcast will help listeners open up new conversations—and hard conversations—with the people who matter most to them. That’s how we can build more understanding and empathy for one another.”  

“As a chart-topping smash hit, Spotify could not have asked for a stronger or more distinctive first entry in our multi-year partnership,” said Spotify Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer, Dawn Ostroff. “Millions of listeners across the globe have already embraced The Michelle Obama Podcast and we look forward to growing that audience as we build anticipation for future Higher Ground series.”

Salesforce and Procter & Gamble’s Dawn and Tide brands served as the first season’s presenting sponsors. 

For more on The Michelle Obama Podcast including a personal introduction from the host herself and future content from Higher Ground Audio, please visit spoti.fi/HigherGround

The Most-Streamed Songs and Podcasts of Summer 2020

August 25, 2020

The summer of 2020 was unique from the start, with celebrations like Pride and music festivals like Notting Hill Carnival taking place virtually for the first time. But as always, people turned to music and podcasts as lively, consistent sources for comfort and entertainment, both in person and apart. And most notably, they turned to “ROCKSTAR” by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, which soared to its spot as the most-streamed song of summer 2020.

With more than 380 million streams between June 1 and August 15, the track has been a mainstay on our global chart and is one of the year’s most-played songs on our flagship RapCaviar playlist. The track’s success is certainly not lost on DaBaby himself.

“I knew ROCKSTAR was going to be a hit while I was creating the record,” the rapper told Spotify. “But to watch the world make it into a global hit is an amazing feeling. God is great!”

Read on for more about the songs that dominated summer, plus, for the first time, the top podcasts. Finally, check out our new digital experience to help you feel some of the summer vibes you may have missed.

Sing along to the top songs of summer

Following DaBaby’s “Rockstar” is The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” which takes the slot for the second-most-streamed song this summer. It racked up just under 340 million streams between June 1 and August 15, and although it was released last November, it speaks to cities being “cold and empty.” In third place is SAINt JHN’s upbeat jam “Roses – Imanbek Remix,” which collected over 280 million streams and was added to many workout playlists.

Harry Styles infused plenty of flavor with “Watermelon Sugar,” which also landed in the top 5. Dua Lipa features twice in the top 20 with “Don’t Start Now” and “Break My Heart,” two tracks featured on the singer-songwriter’s album Future Nostalgia, which she released during quarantine. Ariana Grande also brought double trouble—in the best way possible—with her hit collaborations “Rain On Me” with Lady Gaga and “Stuck with U” with Justin Bieber. Scroll to see the full song list below. 

Get hooked on the top podcasts of summer 

It may have only launched three weeks ago, but that didn’t stop The Michelle Obama Podcast from becoming the top podcast of the summer with millions of listeners. The former first lady took to the mic to speak to listeners on topical themes such as identity, self-care, and family.  

Speaking of topical, listeners were clearly in the mood for plenty of news: NPR News Now and The Daily were the second- and third-most-popular podcasts based on number of listeners between June 1 and August 15. Other top shows include Call Her Daddy, TED Talks Daily, and Harry Potter At Home: Readings, as read by familiar voices like Daniel Radcliffe and Helena Bonham Carter. The mystery obsessed sunk their teeth into Crime Junkie, Last Podcast on the Left, and My Favorite Murder.

Dive into our new digital experience

Didn’t get to take the summer vacation of your dreams this year? Get transported—digitally—to somewhere summery with our new immersive experience, Wish You Were Here. You’ll be able to enjoy some of the season’s biggest hits overlaid with those summer sounds you may have missed: think crashing waves, a sizzling barbeque, or a crackling campfire.

Higher Ground and Spotify Announce ‘The Michelle Obama Podcast’ Debuting July 29

July 16, 2020

Last summer, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, announced a partnership with Spotify to produce podcasts exclusive to the platform. Today, we are excited to announce the first title in the ongoing partnership, The Michelle Obama Podcast.

Hosted by Michelle Obama, the show will bring listeners the First Lady’s most candid, human, and personal conversations to show us what is possible when we dare to be vulnerable. The podcast will debut exclusively on Spotify on July 29, 2020. Like all podcasts on Spotify, it will be available to nearly 300 million Free and Premium users around the world. 

The Obamas formed Higher Ground to produce powerful stories to entertain, inform, inspire, and to lift up new, diverse voices in the entertainment industry. Mrs. Obama’s inaugural show is sure to do just that. 

“My hope is that this series can be a place to explore meaningful topics together and sort through so many of the questions we’re all trying to answer in our own lives,” Michelle Obama said. “Perhaps most of all, I hope this podcast will help listeners open up new conversations—and hard conversations—with the people who matter most to them. That’s how we can build more understanding and empathy for one another.”   

Tune in for episodes on topics ranging from sibling relationships and raising children to girlfriends, women’s health, mentorship, and marriage. An array of special guests, including Dr. Sharon Malone MD, Craig Robinson, Valerie Jarett, Conan O’Brien, and Michele Norris, will join the First Lady for each conversation.

“At Spotify we seek to connect listeners with the world’s most authentic and compelling voices,” said Spotify Chief Content and Advertising Business Officer, Dawn Ostroff. “We believe that audiences across the globe will be inspired by these most candid, most human and most personal conversations between First Lady Michelle Obama and her guests.”

Salesforce and Procter & Gamble brands Dawn and Tide will serve as the first season’s presenting sponsors.

For more on the The Michelle Obama Podcast, including a personal introduction from the host herself, please visit the Higher Ground hub.