Tag: video

Music Videos Rolling Out in Beta to Premium Spotify Users Across Select Markets

March 13, 2024

In the early neon-infused ’80s, music videos burst onto TV screens, turning some of the most beloved songs into visual experiences that redefined the way fans connected with artists around the world. Since then, not only have music videos become one of the many ways that fans discover and fall in love with artists, but iconic videos have become part of pop culture, igniting conversations and influencing style.

They’re a powerful way for fans to discover and connect with music, and a natural fit to live on Spotify. That’s why we’re excited to launch music videos in beta for Spotify Premium users across 11 markets, adding another way to enhance the artist-to-fan connection. 

Spotify is where fans go to dive deeper into an artist’s music. So whether you’re a superfan who wants to rewatch the videos you love and share them with friends, or a casual fan on the lookout for new releases, music videos create a new point of connection with artists.

“So many times in my own experience and for countless others, music videos play a key role in hooking you: taking you from being a listener to leaning in and becoming a fan,” says Charlie Hellman, Vice President and Head of Music Product at Spotify. “They’re an important part of so many artists’ tool kits, and it’s a natural fit for them to live in the same place that more than half a billion people choose to listen to music.”

Through Spotify features like Canvas, Clips, Artist Bios, Live Events, and Merch, artists are able to connect with new fans and loyal listeners in meaningful ways. Canvas visuals in particular have been shown to drive engagement, with users sharing, saving, or adding songs to playlists at a higher rate.

The beta version of music videos on Spotify begins rolling out today with a limited catalog of music videos, including hits from global artists like Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, and Ice Spice, or local favorites like Aluna and Asake.

 

How to watch music videos on Spotify: 

  • We’ll begin to roll out music videos from a select catalog for Premium users in the U.K., Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Kenya. 
  • Premium listeners in those markets can head to their iOS, Android, desktop, or TV device and select the “Switch to Video” toggle for supported music tracks. Then, the music video will start playing from the beginning within the Now Playing view. 
  • Want to return to background listening? Simply press “Switch to Audio.”.
  • You can even watch the music video in full screen by turning your mobile device to watch in landscape mode.

In this beta launch, we’ll continue to innovate and iterate based on feedback from both users and artists. Stay tuned as we hope to expand the catalog of music videos and bring the feature to more users and countries. 

Latin American Creators Show Off Their Creativity With Video Podcasts

June 7, 2023

Many podcast hosts are getting up close and personal with fans in a new way—with video. Video podcasts introduce an extra dimension of interactivity and closeness, allowing listeners to watch facial reactions or take notice of a host’s environment. Some creators are even excited about getting dressed up and showing off their fashion-forward “lewks.”

The shift toward video podcasts is occurring around the world, and in the Latin American market, specifically, a few fan favorites are bringing this new layer to their shows.

Mexican creator Roberta Woodworth, whose podcast LIBRE&LOCA reflects on intimate and personal topics like self-love and heartbreak, is one of those creators currently experimenting with video in her newest season. The show Escuela de Nada, which is made by three Venezuelan friends based in Mexico, is also embracing video as a new way to connect with listeners. And then there’s multifaceted Mexican creator Juanpa Zurita, who introduced video for Season 2 of his Spotify Original podcast, No Hagas Lo Fácil.

Meanwhile, some new podcasts are incorporating video from the get-go. The Brazilian Spotify Original podcast Carona Podpah, featuring Igor Cavalari (known informally as Igão) and Thiago Marques (known as Mítico) from the popular podcast Podpah, premieres on Spotify June 7 and will include video for each of its weekly episodes. The show follows the hosts as they interview guests inside a car, making video an essential part of the podcast.

We caught up with Libre & Loca host Roberta, No Hagas Lo Fácil host Juanpa, Escuela de Nada founder and cohost Chris Andrade, and Carona Podpah hosts Igor and Thiago to learn how video is changing their podcast game.

What excites you most about introducing video to your podcast?

Igor Cavalari and Thiago Marques: Podpah started as a video podcast and the public has always enjoyed that aspect of it a lot—we were the most-listened-to podcast on Spotify in Brazil in 2022 and the 24th globally. Video is fundamental to our show format because we have entertainment as a background for everything we produce—whether we talk about cooking, soccer, or music. When a platform as relevant as Spotify is interested in a partnership with us for a video podcast, it shows us and the market that the product still has a lot to be explored.

Roberta Woodworth: My podcast is very intimate, and I think video invites the listener to get closer, reflect, and empathize even more with these “intimate, universal” topics we cover in Libre & Loca.

Juanpa Zurita: It was something my community asked me for in every episode of last season. So it makes me very happy that we made it for the second season! Listening is nice, but nothing compares to seeing. I think the connection and the dynamic of the podcast is more intimate than before. And people are happy, which makes me very happy!

Chris Andrade: Escuela de Nada, being an improvised comedy podcast, draws on the power of interaction in its videos with its fans. Being able to react to jokes and see the response of the followers has been a change that has excited us a lot.

How has video influenced the way you approach each episode?

Igor and Thiago: Video gives us freedom to create more and more. There are challenges—Carona Podpah involves filming in a tight space as we take our guests inside the car and learn more about the songs that have marked their lives—but that doesn’t hinder us from trying new things.

Roberta: I’m very expressive, and being on camera reminds me that the whole world is going to see my face. That in itself makes everything more human, organic, and real. I am no longer just a voice that accompanies you. I am a person.

Juanpa: There was a drastic change to our set to give it the NHLF look and feel we wanted. We also had to reinvent the intros of the episodes, and I’m really proud of the result.

Chris: Video has led us to have a new type of continuity and closeness with our fans. By being able to see and hear us as hosts, we’re noticing that the engagement from fans is much higher.

How is video helping you connect with your fans?

Igor and Thiago: The main characteristic of a video podcast is that the audience can experience reactions. What we like about having the video feature is that our audience will be able to follow the podcast as if they were with us in the car seeing everything that happened. Video makes the program more dynamic and allows us to establish a greater connection—not only with our guests, but with those on the other side of the screen.

Roberta: It brings us much closer because people not only hear what I think and feel, but also see it. And I talk so much about emotions, so it’s very interesting how that connection becomes deeper.

Juanpa: There’s something very special about body language, and you can’t feel that if you can’t see it. I also want to thank our fans for all the love during Season 1 and for everyone’s insistence on us using video. Without them we wouldn’t have made it. 

Chris: Video has helped us further expand and disseminate our content to a social media platform where video is dominant. Each person has their own way of consuming content, and without a doubt, the video adds a lot to us and brings a lot of value to the new generations.

Creadores Latinoamericanos Muestran Su Creatividad con Video Podcasts

June 7, 2023

Muchos presentadores de podcasts están acercándose de una nueva manera con los fans, a través del video. Los video podcasts introducen una dimensión adicional de interactividad y cercanía, permitiendo a los usuarios ver reacciones faciales o notar el ambiente del presentador. Algunos creadores incluso están entusiasmados por vestirse y mostrar sus mejores looks de moda.

El cambio hacia los video podcasts está ocurriendo en todo el mundo y en el mercado latinoamericano específicamente, algunos favoritos de los fans están incorporando esta nueva capa en sus programas.

Roberta Woodworth, creadora mexicana cuyo podcast LIBRE&LOCA reflexiona sobre temas íntimos y personales como el amor propio y el desamor, es una de esas creadoras que está experimentando actualmente con el video en su nueva temporada. El programa Escuela de Nada, creado por tres amigos venezolanos en México, también está adoptando el video como una nueva forma de conectarse con los oyentes. Y claro, está el versátil creador mexicano Juanpa Zurita, quien presentó en video la segunda temporada de su podcast original de Spotify, No Hagas Lo Fácil.

Mientras tanto, algunos nuevos podcasts están incorporando el video desde el principio. El podcast original brasileño Carona Podpah de Spotify, protagonizado por Igor Cavalari (conocido informalmente como Igão) y Thiago Marques (conocido como Mítico) del popular podcast Podpah, se estrenará en Spotify el 7 de junio e incluirá video en cada uno de sus episodios semanales. El programa sigue a los anfitriones mientras entrevistan a invitados dentro de un automóvil, convirtiendo el video en una parte esencial del podcast.

Nos encontramos con Roberta, presentadora de Libre & Loca, Juanpa, presentador de No Hagas Lo Fácil, Chris Andrade, fundador y coanfitrión de Escuela de Nada, e Igor y Thiago, anfitriones de Carona Podpah, para conocer cómo el video está cambiando su forma de hacer podcasts.

¿Qué es lo que más te entusiasma de incorporar el video a tu podcast?

Igor Cavalari y Thiago Marques: Podpah comenzó como un  video podcast y al público siempre le gustó mucho ese aspecto; fuimos el podcast más escuchado en Spotify en Brasil en 2022 y el 24º a nivel mundial. El video es fundamental para nuestro formato de programa porque tenemos el entretenimiento como trasfondo de todo lo que producimos, ya sea que hablemos de cocina, fútbol o música. Cuando una plataforma tan relevante como Spotify está interesada en asociarse con nosotros para un podcast en video, nos muestra a nosotros y al mercado que el producto aún tiene mucho por explorar.

Roberta Woodworth: Mi podcast es muy íntimo y creo que el video invita al escucha a acercarse, reflejarse y empatizar todavía más con estos temas “íntimos universales” que tocamos en Libre&Loca.

Juanpa Zurita: Era algo que mi comunidad me pedía en todos los episodios de la temporada pasada. Así que me pone muy contento que lo logramos para la segunda! Escuchar es lindo pero nada se compara con ver. Creo que la conexión y la dinámica del podcast es más íntima que antes. Y la gente está feliz, lo cual me hace muy feliz!

Chris Andrade: Escuela de Nada al ser un podcast de comedia improvisada se nutre del poder de interacción en sus video con sus fans, poder reaccionar a chistes y ver la respuesta de los seguidores ha sido un cambio que nos ha emocionado mucho.

¿Cómo ha influenciado el video la forma en que abordas cada episodio?

Igor y Thiago: El video nos da libertad para crear más y más. Hay desafíos: Carona Podpah implica filmar en un espacio reducido mientras llevamos a nuestros invitados dentro del automóvil y conocemos más sobre las canciones que han marcado sus vidas, pero eso no nos impide probar cosas nuevas.

Roberta: Tengo que tener súper presente que soy muy expresiva y ahora todo el mundo va a ver mis caras. Pero eso lo hace todo más humano, orgánico y real. Ya no solo soy una voz que te acompaña, soy una persona.

Juanpa: Hubo un cambio drástico en nuestro set para darle el look and feel que queríamos de NHLF. Además tuvimos que reinventar las intros de los episodios y la verdad estoy muy orgulloso del resultado.

Chris: Complementando la respuesta anterior, el video nos ha llevado a tener una fluidez y cercanía con todos nuestros fans. Es una realidad que al poder ver y escuchar a tus hosts el engage es muchísimo más alto.

¿Cómo te ayuda el video a conectarte con tus fans?

Igor y Thiago: La principal característica de un podcast en video es que la audiencia puede experimentar reacciones. Lo que nos gusta de tener la función de video es que nuestra audiencia podrá seguir el podcast como si estuvieran con nosotros en el automóvil viendo todo lo que sucede. El video hace que el programa sea más dinámico y nos permite establecer una conexión mayor, no solo con nuestros invitados, sino también con aquellos al otro lado de la pantalla.

Roberta: Nos acerca mucho más porque la gente no solo escucha lo que pienso y siento, sino que también lo ve. Y hablo mucho de emociones, así que es muy interesante cómo esa conexión se vuelve más profunda.

Juanpa: Sin duda el video ha permitido conectar más con todos! Hay algo muy especial en el lenguaje corporal que no puedes sentir si no lo ves. También quiero agradecer por todo el amor a la temporada 1 y la insistencia de todos por tener video porque sin ustedes no lo hubiéramos logrado. Esto es por y para ellos!

Chris: El video nos ha ayudado a expandir y difundir aún más nuestro contenido en una plataforma de redes sociales donde el video es dominante. Cada persona tiene su forma de consumir contenido y, sin duda, el video nos aporta mucho y agrega mucho valor a las nuevas generaciones.

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.

Watch 6 Iconic Korean Hip-Hop Artists Explain How the Genre Has Captured the Hearts of Fans Around the World

December 13, 2022

In South Korea, hip-hop has not only evolved into an essential part of the music scene, but also a big part of the country’s pop culture. While K-Pop has been taking over the world, Korean hip-hop has also started to gain international popularity, with K-hip-hop artists expanding their presence in the global market. With the growing interest from fans and listeners worldwide, Spotify launched KrOWN in September of this year, our official global Korean hip-hop playlist (formerly known as K-Hip-Hop +82). KrOWN serves as a bridge between K-hip-hop and music fans around the world, ultimately elevating Korean hip-hop artists and culture. 

To dive further into the genre, uncover what makes K-hip-hop unique to the world, and explore the music’s roots, Spotify sat down with some of the most iconic artists in the scene.

Meet some of the key players who have propelled the growth of K-hip-hop:  

  • Tiger JK: The history of hip-hop in South Korea is generally considered to have begun in the 1990s with iconic figures like Tiger JK helping the genre become mainstream. Often referred to as the godfather of K-hip-hop, the rapper was also a founding member of the group Drunken Tiger. “Back then, every day was like war, and finding a place to perform was almost impossible. But it was so much fun,” Tiger JK recalls. “And the best trophy for us at the time was having three or four fans walk up to us in the subway and share which lyrics and rhymes they liked about our song.”
  • Yoon Mirae: Yoon debuted in 1997 and is recognized as an icon in Korea. She runs the record label Feel Ghood Music with her husband, Tiger JK. “If you are a fan of hip-hop, you can’t help but be a fan of K-hip-hop,” she says. “A lot of artists in Korea are just really that good, and a lot of MCs—especially people like Tiger JK—stay grounded to their roots and want to show their love and appreciation for the Korean culture we came from… I think people recognize that.”

  • Dynamicduo (consisting of CHOIZA and Gaeko): The K-hip-hop scene began to coalesce further in the 2000s, as the genre’s top artists continuously challenged themselves to bring the sound forward. In 2006, the iconic group Dynamicduo established hip-hop record label Amoeba Culture, which has since become a home to various prominent artists.

  • Jay Park: Fast-forward to the present, and Jay Park—rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur—believes the overall popularity of Korean culture around the world has benefitted K-hip-hop as well. Having started his career in the K-Pop entertainment business, Jay Park is now a renowned multifaceted talent and one of the most streamed Korean hip-hop artists worldwide.  

  • The Quiett: The Quiett holds a strong presence in South Korea’s hip-hop scene with over two decades of experience in the space. A rapper, composer, and record producer widely known for founding major hip-hop record labels (including Illionaire Records and Ambition Musik), the artist thinks back to when he first started as a rapper and to the exciting present of the scene, now filled with passionate, unique talents. 

Not only has the genre become a significant part of the music culture in South Korea, but it has also emerged as a form of entertainment, including TV shows, festivals, and films, enjoyed across many generations. 

In addition to the campaign video available on KrOWN (via Spotify Clips) and Spotify’s official global YouTube channel, starting mid December, the KrOWN playlist will be taken over each week by one of the artists featured in the video. Through the KrOWN playlist takeover campaign, Yoon Mirae and Tiger JK, Dynamicduo, The Quiett, and Jay Park will each select 10 of their favorite tracks to be added at the top of the KrOWN playlist for one full week. Interviews of each artist will also be unveiled on the platform.

RADAR Artist Cat Burns Takes a Trip Down Memory Lane With Spotify Singles Recorded at Her Former School

October 26, 2022

a photo of Cat Burns sitting on a brown leather couch, wearing a green tracksuit, and staring at the camera

Cat Burns is Spotify’s newest Global RADAR artist, but this may not be the first time listeners have heard the singer-songwriter’s name. The South London native recently supported superstar Ed Sheeran on the European leg of his Mathematics Tour, and she’s set to support Sam Smith on the European leg of his GLORIA tour. On Spotify, Cat has already attracted listeners’ attention, racking up over 5.8 million monthly listeners.

Plus, Cat was previously featured in Spotify’s Noteable songwriters program, and earlier this year she was highlighted as a Spotify UK RADAR artist. Now, she’s going global with Spotiy’s RADAR program, which spotlights rising stars through editorial, creative, and marketing support. 

As part of RADAR, Cat Burns sat down to create new music in a special Spotify Singles session. The Spotify Singles program, which kicked off in 2016, was created to provide artists with the opportunity to rerecord one of their existing songs in a fresh new way, as well as cover a song of their choice by one of their own musical heroes.

For her Spotify Singles release, Cat returned to the Sir George Martin Recording Studio—located in The BRIT School, where she was a former student—and reworked a stripped-back version of her current single “people pleaser.” She also recorded a cover of fellow Londoner Estelle’s hit award-winning single, “American Boy.”

“Cat is the real deal. Authentic, open, hardworking, talented. A real BRIT School example,” shared Stuart Worden, Principal of The BRIT School. “We’re so proud of her.” 

During the experience, we worked with Cat to create a special mini-documentary. “Being given the opportunity to do the Spotify RADAR documentary was honestly so much fun. I felt so lucky and honored that they wanted me and was excited to take a trip down memory lane,” said Cat. “It helped me really put into perspective my career and what I’ve achieved and how hard I’ve worked.”

Cat is already a platinum-certified artist, and now fans can find her track at the top of the RADAR Global playlist.

 

 

Talking Tech, Tunes, and Beyond as Spotify Talks Launches in Pakistan

September 26, 2022

Today the conversation gets a little more lively as we launch the first episode of Spotify Talks in Pakistan.

Spotify Talks is a quarterly series of hour-long conversations hosted here that give Pakistani listeners the inside scoop on what’s going on in the local entertainment, music, and tech scenes. From how to keep the music industry growing to the latest trends in advertising, discussions each episode will feature a diverse panel of industry leaders, tastemakers, and creators. 

The first season kicks off with a bang as the host, actress and VJ Anoushey Ashraf, brings together artists and EQUAL Ambassadors Natasha Baig, Momina Mustehsan, and Zoha Zuberi along with Spotify Music Manager Rutaba Yaqub for a lively discussion on the ups and downs that come with being a woman in the music industry. 

For the Record sat down with Rutaba Yaqub—Spotify’s Music Manager for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan—to learn more about what listeners can expect from Spotify Talks.

Why are you launching Spotify Talks?

Culture is close to our heart at Spotify—and by culture, we’re talking about Pakistan’s rich music scene, its talented creators, and the fans who make it possible for artists to reach new heights every day. Spotify Talks is all about that. 

Through Spotify Talks, we are leveraging our platform to bring together key industry players, tastemakers, and experts to have conversations about the latest movements across music, technology, and entertainment in Pakistan. Each episode of the digital series will cover a new topic, and we hope that our viewers leave feeling inspired by the amazing stories our guests will share. 

What should we expect from Spotify Talks?

You can expect candid and engaging conversations among experts with varying backgrounds. Each episode touches on hard-hitting topics important to Pakistan, such as women in music, piracy, cultivating local talent, the latest trends in advertising, authenticity in the digital age, and more. 

Our first episode is a celebration of women in music, reflecting on their triumphs and challenges and looking at how EQUAL Pakistan contributed to the discovery of women’s voices around the globe. 

What have been the major milestones for EQUAL Pakistan in the last six months? 

On International Women’s Day this year, we launched the EQUAL Pakistan playlist to highlight the importance of equity for women in music. It is already challenging to pursue a career in music in Pakistan, let alone embark on this journey as a woman where platforms never existed to amplify the music careers of Pakistani women. 

Every year on Women’s Day in March, we hear a lot of noise about giving equal rights to women, but this noise is time-bound. Therefore, keeping this in mind, our goal is to make that noise throughout the year, giving the opportunity to all women in music from singers to producers. 

Since the launch of EQUAL Pakistan six months ago, the program’s dedicated playlist has seen a 63% increase in streams by listeners in Pakistan. And fans from all over the globe are streaming Pakistani women artists at full volume, from the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to Canada. 

We are proud to say that women artists added to the EQUAL Pakistan playlist are about 20 times more likely to be discovered by new fans. 

What are your hopes for Pakistani women artists in years to come? 

We hope that Pakistani women artists keep creating music and have their work seen and heard—not just in Pakistan, but all over the globe. Seeing more women in music will motivate more women to pursue careers in the field, without hesitation.

As Pakistan’s music industry continues to evolve, providing a nurturing environment for women artists and supporting them will be crucial. We have plenty of phenomenal talent coming out of the country, and with EQUAL, we will continue inspiring and encouraging our listeners to play their music at full volume. 

This is just the beginning. 

 

See what everybody’s talking about by tuning in to the EQUAL Pakistan playlist:

All Creators in Select Markets Can Now Publish Video Podcasts on Spotify

April 21, 2022

Podcasters Ricky and Denzel in green box

*Update as of Tuesday, November 15, 2022: Video podcast publishing capabilities are now available to Anchor creators in over 180 global markets. Learn more here.

Last fall, Spotify began activating Video Podcasts for creators on a limited basis. Since then, we’ve found that podcasters love having the option to accompany their audio with visual components, and fans love having the opportunity to more deeply connect with the content. So as the audience for this format grows, we’re also opening up the Video Podcast capability to more creators, creating a growing catalog of video podcasts. Starting today, we’re expanding Video Podcasts on Spotify to all creators in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the U.K. Creators will have the ability to upload their video content to Spotify through Anchor as easily as they already publish audio. 

Visual interactions allow fans to get to know their favorite podcast hosts even better, and allow creators to connect with their audiences in a much deeper way. But if you want to stick to the pure audio experience, that’s great too—video on Spotify is backgroundable for all listeners, so you can immerse yourself in the content when you want to, or simply lean back and just listen.

Two displays of "We Said What We Said" podcast, one is a Video Podcast

But wait—there are new features too. 

As exciting as Video Podcasts are, we know this is new territory for many podcasters. And since Video Podcasting is more than simply uploading a video, alongside our expansion to more podcasters, we’re also enabling new features to help set creators up for success. 

Here’s what’s new: 

  • Access for everyone: Starting now, creators in these five markets can find Video Podcast uploading capabilities on Anchor’s web platform. We plan to roll this out to additional markets in the future. 
  • Podcast Subscriptions: Spotify Podcast Subscriptions will be available for video podcasts, empowering creators to own their monetization models by creating exclusive content, gating video, and more. Stay tuned—we’re working on more monetization features to come soon.
  • Integration with Riverside: Today we’re also kicking off a partnership with Riverside, the go-to platform for remote recording. The integration enables creators to record and publish video content for free with Riverside with a quick distribution path to Spotify via Anchor.
  • Embeddable video: Now, when you embed a Video Podcast episode from Spotify, the video will play directly in the embed player wherever you placed it. It’s a great tool—whether you’re excited to share great content with friends or grow your audience.
  • Video Bulk-Replace: Bulk-replace allows Anchor creators to easily replace their existing audio episodes with video versions from an easy-to-use interface. Get ready for more time creating content and less time editing it.
  • Video Analytics: Video-specific analytics will give creators deep insights into their videos’ performance on Spotify, enabling them to better understand their audiences and publish content suited to them.
  • Interactive capabilities: Our interactive podcast features, like Polls and Q&A, will be available for Video Podcasts so creators can connect with and get feedback directly from their listeners.

With this latest expansion, we’re continuing to make Video Podcasting a great experience for creators—empowering them to reach new global audiences, own how they monetize their content, and interact with fans in new ways. There’s a massive opportunity for Video Podcasts on Spotify, and we can’t wait to see what creators bring to the table.

Want to make a Video Podcast of your own? Check out our guide on Anchor’s blog for the full details for creators.

Listen—and Watch—Your Favorite Creators as Video Podcasting Comes to Spotify

October 21, 2021

When you head to Spotify to stream your favorite podcast, sometimes you’re looking for an active listening experience—one with the option to more deeply engage with the content you’re listening to. That’s why we’ve created features like Polls and Q&A for a chance to interact with creators. It’s also why we’ve incorporated video podcasts alongside our audio offering so fans can get to know their favorite podcast hosts even better, and creators can connect with their audiences in a much deeper way.

When we began rolling out video podcasts on Spotify, we tested the format with a variety of Spotify Originals. Since then, we’ve found that our users want the option to easily switch between audio only and video depending on where they are, what they’re doing, and what they’re enjoying. So today, we’re beginning a major expansion of our video podcast catalog—by putting it in the capable hands of creators. 

Soon, Spotify users will see a lot more video podcasts on the platform as we open up access for creators to begin publishing video podcasts to Spotify. This tool will be accessible through Anchor, Spotify’s podcasting platform, and will offer a seamless way for creators to upload video content and publish to Spotify. 

We’ll be launching on a rolling basis with a number of key creators, including existing podcasters who are expanding to video as well as video creators looking to extend their offering to Spotify listeners. Some of these include Philip DeFranco, The GaryVee Audio Experience, Jasmine Chiswell, The WAN Show, Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald, Mark Manson, Tap In w/ Harry Jowsey, and many more to come. These shows join Spotify Originals and Exclusives including The Ringer’s Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay and The Joe Rogan Experience. Expect to see more original video podcasts from Spotify in the future.

Ready to take a watch and a listen? Here’s how to find video content:

  1. Open the Spotify mobile app. 
  2. Navigate to the show you’re excited about and go to the episode page.
  3. Hit “Play” on a podcast episode.
  4. Tap the play bar at the bottom of the screen to view the video full-screen.
  5. Sit back, listen, and watch! (Or if you want to go back to just listening, you can easily do that too). 

More video podcasts will soon be coming to Spotify, so keep an ear—and an eye—on your favorite creators and shows.

Are you a podcast creator? Head over to Anchor’s blog to learn more about the video podcasting feature.

Watch 15-Year-Old Jazz Pianist Joey Alexander Share His Passion for Music

August 17, 2018

Each time jazz musician Joey Alexander opens Spotify, he sees something that most 15-year-olds don’t: his fourth studio album. What’s more, he sees the numbers: 400,000-plus listeners from around the world follow the Indonesian jazz pianist.

The care and delight Joey expresses with each stroke of the keyboard is apparent in his performance of his own free composition, “Eclipse,” seen in an exclusive interview and performance with Joey at Steinway Hall in New York City. Between his utter surrender to the melody and the excitement with which he shares his story, it is clear that when Joey plays, he pours his heart and soul into the music and instrument he loves.

Music has always been a part of Joey’s life. He taught himself piano when he was 6 years old by both listening to his father’s jazz albums and sitting down at the piano to practice playing the notes himself. At 9, he won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Master-Jam Fest, an international, all-ages jazz competition. And when he was 11, he became the youngest jazz artist ever to be nominated for a Grammy. But what’s most important in all of this, he says, is “to enjoy every moment.”

It’s more than talent and dedication that have pushed Joey decades ahead of his peers in his musical career. His passion for jazz, belief in music’s ability to bring people together, and love of storytelling through composition all fuel his playing—and keep him going. Joey’s musical influences and inspiration span decades of jazz expertise, as you can hear in his Inspiration Playlist:

Between his utter surrender to the melody and the excitement with which he shares his story, it is clear that when Joey plays, he pours his heart and soul into the music and instrument he loves.

‘See You Again’: Charlie Puth’s Musical Homecoming

July 30, 2018

Most people visit their alma maters excited to see their old dorms or to catch the homecoming tailgate and football game. But when Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/producer Charlie Puth stopped by his old stomping grounds at Berklee College of Music in July, it was for slightly more academic reasons: to be a frank, off-the-cuff guest lecturer for students looking to perfect their music and pursue their passion, just as he did.

The Berklee grad (class of 2013) walked away from college with a degree in music production and engineering, as well as knowledge and experience that helped him land his first major label deal, with Atlantic, in 2015. From there, he collaborated with Meghan Trainor on their hit single “Marvin Gaye,” and Wiz Khalifa on the Grammy-nominated number “See You Again.” He released his debut album, Nine Track Mind, in January 2016.

Yet throughout his burgeoning fame he hasn’t forgotten his roots. On July 12, Puth joined up with Spotify and one of his former Berklee teachers, Grammy-nominated hit songwriter and former “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi, to host a special workshop and live performance for current top-performing upperclassmen at campus hot spot Cafe 939. He reflected on his time at the school and launching his career, workshopped with students, provided tips for improvement, and even performed some of his hits, including “Done for Me,” “How Long,” “Attention,” “The Way I Am,” and “See You Again.”

“I’m on cloud nine right now, you know why?” Charlie asked the class. “I played a show in front of 15,000 people last night. But my first show ever was in this room. It’s come full circle.”

Listen to Charlie Puth’s newest, self-produced album, Voicenotes.