The emotional moment when two rappers take the stage for a freestyle battle is incomparable: The energy flows to the rhythm of the beats while the MCs—armed with their mental agility, linguistic acrobatics and lyricism—face off to show who has the best flow. The ritual of the rap battle is the foundation of hip hop and remains as valid as ever today with a new generation of fans.
Now, Spotify will officially partner with the largest freestyle tournament in Spanish, Red Bull Batalla, offering a unique, dedicated listening experience in a hub with playlists, battles in audio format, podcasts, and more.
In the official Red Bull Batalla playlist, fans will find the best of rappers who have emerged victorious and the most exciting tracks from the current tournament, including “Crescendo,” the anthem with the most beloved talent of the 2021 season.
In addition, fans will be able to follow their favorite rappers in each of the ten national finals: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, Central America and the United States, leading to the grand final in Mexico this December. The battles will be remastered especially for an album format, released by Red Bull Records, and fans can relive the thrill of historical battles through their ears as many times as they like in This is: Red Bull Batalla.
What’s more, fans can benefit from all of Spotify’s beloved features, including Lyrics—important when contestants are improvising by the second—and Storylines, which includes written commentary by the protagonists of the battles.
Follow the best of Red Bull Batalla and stay tuned for more news about the competition and its players on Spotify.
La emoción cuando dos raperos suben al escenario para una batalla de freestyle es incomparable: la energía fluye al ritmo de los beats mientras los MCs, armados con su agilidad mental, acrobacias lingüísticas y lirismo, se enfrentan para demostrar quién tiene el mejor flow. El ritual de la batalla de rap es el fundamento del hip-hop y sigue siendo tan válido como siempre hoy con una nueva generación de fanáticos.
Ahora, Spotify suma fuerzas con el torneo de freestyle en español más grande del mundo, Red Bull Batalla, ofreciendo una experiencia auditiva única y dedicada en un espacio con playlists, batallas en formato de audio, podcasts y más.
En la playlist oficial Red Bull Batalla, los fanáticos encontrarán lo mejor de los raperos que han salido victoriosos y las pistas más emocionantes del torneo actual, incluido “Crescendo”, el himno con el talento más querido de la temporada 2021.
Los fans podrán seguir a sus raperos favoritos en cada una de las diez finales: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, México, Perú, España, Uruguay, Centroamérica y Estados Unidos, hasta llegar a la gran final en México este diciembre. Estas batallas serán remasterizadas para un formato de álbum, lanzado por Red Bull Records. Y los fans pueden revivir la emoción de las batallas históricas tantas veces como quieran en This is: Red Bull Batalla.
Además, los fanáticos pueden aprovechar de todas las funciones favoritas de Spotify, incluidas las letras (importantes cuando los concursantes están improvisando por segundos) y Storylines, que incluye comentarios escritos por los concursantes de las batallas.
Sigue lo mejor de Red Bull Batalla y mantente al tanto de más noticias sobre la competencia y sus protagonistas en Spotify.
If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own podcast, this is your chance. Spotify’s Sound Up program, now in its third year, is designed to uplift and amplify the voices of aspiring podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds through education, workshops, and support. Applications for Spotify’s Sound Up 2020 program are now available in the US, with applications for other countries rolling out soon.
Through the workshop, participants will learn the ins and outs of developing and producing their very own podcasts. We’ve seen a huge interest in the program, with 20,000+ applications submitted over the past three years. Ultimately, 60 people have completed the program throughout theUK,Australia,the US, andGermany. Ten of those graduates have since launched their own shows, and three now have Spotify Original podcasts on the platform. To celebrate our graduates’ success, we’ve put several of their podcasts all in one place.
This year’s program, however, will look a little different. Due to the challenges of gathering during this unprecedented time, Sound Up will be divided into two phases. First up is a virtual four-week course that will take place later this year. To ensure everyone has equal access to technology, we’ll be providing computers, WiFi access, and podcast recording equipment to participants. Then, those who demonstrate a particular knack for podcasting will be invited to a future in-person training where they will further develop their ideas.
But that’s not the only new thing in store. Sound Up is also making its grand debut in two countries—Brazil and Sweden—in an effort to bring Sound Up to even more individuals. In Sweden, the program is aimed at women and non-binary people who may experience racism because of their skin color, culture, language, religion, or ethnicity. Applications in Brazil, will be open to young people of color from the Periferias, or outskirts of big cities.
Twenty applicants from each participating country will be chosen to take part in the four-week online program. During that time, they’ll start their podcasting journeys, honing their skills in storytelling, designing a podcast, editing audio, and learning the business of the medium. At the very end, participants will leave with the tools they need to create a trailer for their show.
This year’s U.S. session will be facilitated by longtime collaborator and Sound Up veteran, Rekha Murthy. She will be joined by co-facilitator Maria Murriel of the production house Pizza Shark.
Thinking about applying but don’t have podcasting experience? Not to worry. To be a part of the program, you don’t need any prior podcasting experience, just something unique to say and a desire to use podcasts to say it. (Plus, you must be a resident of the country where you’re applying and self-identify as a member of the community being served in that country.)
U.S. residents can now apply for this year’s Sound Up here. Those in Sweden, Germany, and Brazil can apply later this month, and applications for the U.K. and Ireland will be available in August. The program will be offered to women and non-binary people of color in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, and Sweden; young people of color from the Periferias in Brazil; and members of the LGBQTI community in Germany. We can’t wait to hear what these new podcasters have to share.
Applications are now available for residents in the US. Interested applicants in other countries should stay tuned for more updates.
Last year, we helped bring families together with Spotify Kids—our stand-alone app in beta designed specifically for kids ages three and older. The app, which has been exclusive to Spotify Premium Family subscribers in select countries, was developed with safety and privacy in mind. It’s an ad-free experience where young listeners can explore sing-alongs, soundtracks, and stories on their own or with their families. Now, at a time when so many kids are home from school, we’re bringing the experience to even more people as the app rolls out in the U.S., Canada, and France—and we hope parents there will find it useful as well.
This comes off our initial launch of Spotify Kids in beta in Ireland, followed by Sweden, Denmark, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. With more than 125 playlists, Spotify Kids makes it easy for families to listen to their favorite songs and stories while also discovering new ones. Everything on Spotify Kids has been hand selected by our editors, so you can be sure that the content is both kid friendly and—most importantly—fun!
We’re constantly working on ways to make the Kids experience even better, and we had the opportunity to take into consideration the ideas and feedback from parents who have already used the app with their kids. So here’s what’s new and launching soon on the app:
More to love
In the U.S. and Canada, there are now more than 8,000 songs available in the Kids app—that’s 30% more than when we first launched. And because variety is the spice of life, every day we’re adding more songs in all markets. We’ve also added more audiobooks and stories to the library, including Disney Music Group Stories, fairytales, classics, and short stories.
Bedtime is even better
Parents told us that they love using Kids around bedtime, so we’ve added more lullabies, calming music and sounds, and bedtime stories to help lull your little ones to sleep. Sweet dreams!
A more customized experience
Parenting is personal. That’s why we’re working on giving parents more control over what kids can (and can’t) listen to and new features that will allow parents to further customize the experience. In addition, half of the content you’ll find in Kids is based on what’s popular in the country you live in.
Even more educational content
There has always been a focus on educational musical content for kids on the app, including a playlist hub called Learning that features songs that teach kids about counting, the ABC’s, science, and more. Recently, we also added a new global playlist with songs to help kids learn general hygiene best practices, like how to wash their hands and cough and sneeze properly into their elbows. This playlist features the newly released song from Pinkfong, “Wash Your Hands with Baby Shark.” Plus, relevant educational content on the app will continue to grow.
We even have some new offerings specifically for our U.S. users. Here are some of the unique features U.S. families can expect:
Diverse content
The U.S. is a melting pot of cultures, and the music our listeners stream reflects that. So in addition to all the core favorites you’d expect, the U.S. Kids app also includes Spanish-language, country, Christian, Motown, and soul dance party playlists.
Pop culture crazy
Just like the main Spotify app, Kids taps into the big cultural moments listeners love. For example, we know that movies and music go hand in hand, which is why you’ll find the Trolls World Tour playlist and an official Frozen playlistfeatured in the app.
Because two heads are better…
We’re working alongside children’s brands like Disney Music Group, KIDZ BOP, and Nickelodeon to create totally unique Spotify Kids content and experiences. Stay tuned: we think you’ll like what you hear.
The Spotify Kids app is available exclusively for Spotify Premium Family subscribers at no additional charge and can be downloaded on iOS or Android devices. New Premium subscribers are also eligible for one month free of Premium Family—just visitspotify.com/family.
Yale’s Skull and Bones, the Carbonari, the Black Hand, Illuminati—what do these organizations all have in common? They’re all some of the most-whispered-about underground clubs in the world and the subject of Parcast’s new original podcast, Secret Societies.
The series will bring listeners on a journey through hidden passageways into the mysterious realm of assassin sects, high society clubs, and powerful political cabals. The show explores each society—filled with conspiracies ranging from shadow figures to unknown rituals—in two episodes that expose the people and context responsible for the organization’s founding and analyze the psychology behind their beliefs.
“Secret societies are intriguing across cultures and aren’t specific to one region in the world—they exist everywhere and are unknown, mysterious entities that are universally intriguing,” says Max Cutler, founder and managing director of Parcast, a Spotify company.
While the societies may be secret, Parcast is letting the cat out of the bag. As a way to tap into that universal intrigue, the series is being launched simultaneously in the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico—a first in the podcast space.
“Brazil and Mexico are two of Spotify’s fastest-growing markets in terms of podcasting,” Cutler says. “We’re seeing phenomenal traction and encouraging growth in the overall podcast ecosystem there, so it was a natural fit for us to run this first global launch in the three countries.”
Dive deep into the first episode on Yale’s Skull and Bones club below and stay tuned for new episodes every Thursday.
248 million users. 79 markets. One incredible Premium experience. Our goal is to make sure Spotify Premium is available wherever our listeners are. That’s why we’re always teaming up with new partners to enable more users to discover Spotify Premium and enjoy the music and podcasts they love. Just in time for the holidays, today we’re sharing four new ways our fans around the world can enjoy Spotify Premium—and get even more out of it.
“These partnerships will make it even easier for users to experience Spotify Premium and access music and podcasts anytime and on any device,” says Marc Hazan, VP of Premium Partnerships. “We’re committed to working with world-class partners to provide users with innovative offers and the best experience and value.”
Ready to learn more? Here are four new ways users around the globe can access Spotify Premium:*
U.S. and U.K. Users: Stay in the Game with Xbox and Spotify
Gamers know that it’s often the music that makes the experience what it is. So as part of a special holiday campaign, we’re deepening our partnership with Xbox by offering eligible U.S. and U.K. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members a free six-month trial of Spotify Premium. That’s right— you can stay in the game while playing Spotify in the background, as well as control playback with Spotify Connect. Get all the details on this time-limited offer by visiting Xbox.
French users: Enjoy Spotify en français with Bouygues Telecom
Spotify + Bouygues Telecom on one bill = c’est magique. In France, Spotify and Bouygues Telecom are offeringa free six-month trial of Spotify Premium for customers on Bouygues Telecom broadband and eligible mobile plans. And Bouygues Telecom customers on mobile tariffs >1 GB data allowance can add Spotify Premium to their existing mobile plan while paying one convenient bill. Bouygues Telecom’s 4G service covers 99% of the French population and was named the number one operator in rural areas by Arcep, the French telecoms regulator, in 2018, so you know you’re in good hands.
Brazilian users: Get technical with service app Magalu Conecta
Our offer in Brazil is in partnership with Magazine Luiza (“Magalu”), one of the country’s top retailers, and their service app Magalu Conecta. The Magalu Conecta app provides services and benefits including technical support, cloud storage, phone protection and free exclusive Wi-Fi hotspots. As part of our partnership, we’re offering Magalu Conecta customers a free four-month trial of Spotify Premium.
Australian users: Listen through one of Australia’s largest mobile networks, Vodafone
In Australia, we’re once again joining forces with Vodafone to offer our users there even more value. Eligible Vodafone customers can now receive a free 30-day trial of Spotify Premium when Spotify Premium is added to their existing mobile plan—and pay one convenient bill.
No matter where you are or what you’re listening to, get it on-demand and on-the-go with Spotify Premium. Click here to learn about how to give the gift of Spotify and other holiday offers available through Spotify Premium.
You’ve just binged your favorite podcast and you’re finally caught up. But now you have to wait an entire week until the next episode. Now what? With so many great podcasts on Spotify, it can be hard to know what to listen to next. Thanks to our latest personalized playlist, it’s now easier than ever.
Spotify transformed music discovery with playlists like Discover Weekly and Daily Mix. Now we’ve created Your Daily Podcasts—our first daily personalized podcast playlist that gives users an easy way to discover new shows while also keeping up with old favorites. If you’ve listened to at least four podcasts in the past 90 days, you’ll find the playlist in the “Your Top Podcasts” shelf on Home or in the “Made For You” hub on browse.
Here’s how Your Daily Podcasts works:
Spotify’s algorithms analyze your podcast behavior—like recent streams and follows.
Then, based on your listening history and the podcast type, we’ll recommend the next best episodes for you.
Don’t worry—no spoilers here! If you’ve never listened to a story-driven sequential show we think you’d like, you’ll get the trailer or pilot episode first—to see if it catches your eye (er, ear).
Free and Premium users in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can check out their Your Daily Podcasts playlist, now available on Spotify.
Recent Comments