Tag: wrapped

The Wait Is Over. Your Spotify 2021 Wrapped Is Here.

December 1, 2021

What did your 2021 sound like? Did you fall back in love with a past favorite artist, sample a genre you’d never listened to before, or binge true crime podcasts for the first time ever? However you streamed, it was uniquely you, and uniquely 2021. 

Today, in addition to revealing the top music and podcasts streamed globally in 2021, we’re unveiling our annual 2021 personalized Wrapped experience for listeners. It’s inspired by the millions of weird and wonderful ways you listened this year—and by the creators who soundtracked the world around us. 

In a world that continues to keep us on our toes, the 2021 Wrapped experience is full of the known and unknown, with fan-favorite experiences mixing with surprising new ones that connect listeners with each other and their favorite creators. 

Lo que Más Escuchó el Mundo en 2021

December 1, 2021

Si el 2020 fue el año que puso al mundo de cabeza, el 2021 fue el año en que nos acostumbramos a ver las cosas al revés. Con la noción de lo “normal” arrojada por la ventana, la gente en todo el mundo comenzó a abrazar lo desconocido y, al hacerlo, defendió todas esas cosas que nos hacen únicos a cada uno de nosotros.

La campaña Mi 2021 En Spotify celebra esta idea: las millones de formas extrañas y maravillosas de escuchar y vivir en un mundo que continúa manteniéndonos alerta. Hoy presentamos los mejores artistas, álbumes, canciones, podcasts y más que definieron cómo más de 381 millones de personas en todo el mundo escucharon y descubrieron el audio durante un año que convirtió la expresión “sin precedentes” en, digamos, un precedente.

Como de costumbre, #Mi2021EnSpotify ​nos ayuda a reflexionar sobre el gran papel que desempeña el audio en la vida de nuestros oyentes y cómo nuestros creadores favoritos nos regalaron una banda sonora para el mundo que nos rodea.

Los artistas, canciones y álbumes más escuchados a nivel mundial

Por segundo año consecutivo, la estrella puertorriqueña de reguetón Bad Bunny se lleva el título de artista con más streams del mundo en Spotify. Aún más: ha recibido más de 9.100 millones de streams sin lanzar un nuevo álbum este año. Le sigue de cerca la cantautora Taylor Swift, cuyo álbum Red (versión de Taylor) les dio a los viejos y nuevos fans una razón para revivir la revolucionaria obra temprana de la artista. Redondeando el top 3 de 2021 está BTS. El grupo de k-pop más amado a nivel mundial tuvo un año destacado gracias a su sencillo “Butter”. Los artistas canadienses de hip-hop Drake, que lanzó Certified Lover Boy en septiembre, y Justin Bieber, cuyo álbum de 2021 Justice contó con colaboraciones con artistas de todo el mundo, ocupan los puestos cuatro y cinco, respectivamente.

La canción más escuchada en 2021 a nivel mundial es la sorpresiva “drivers license” de Olivia Rodrigo, que obtuvo más de 1.100 millones de streams. El track viral “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” de Lil Nas X llega hasta el segundo lugar y anunció el primer álbum de estudio del artista. Kid LAROI entra en las filas por primera vez, con su colaboración junto a Justin Bieber “STAY” ocupando el tercer lugar. El cuarto lugar muestra de nuevo a Olivia Rodrigo, esta vez con “good 4 u”, que también se ganó el título de Canción del Verano de Spotify 2021. La quinta canción más escuchada en escalar los charts es “Levitating (con DaBaby)” de Dua Lipa.

Cuando se trata de los álbumes más escuchados de 2021 a nivel mundial, Olivia Rodrigo vuelve a reclamar la corona: su álbum debut SOUR claramente tenía un poco de dulzura. Future Nostalgia de Dua Lipa ocupa el segundo lugar, con Justice de Justin Bieber, = de Ed Sheeran y Planet Her de Doja Cat en tercer, cuarto y quinto lugar.

Los podcasts más escuchados a nivel mundial

Saliendo de su primer año completo como exclusivo de Spotify, The Joe Rogan Experience sigue siendo el podcast número uno en Spotify a nivel mundial. Le sigue Call Her Daddy, de la intrépida Alex Cooper, que también se convirtió en exclusivo de Spotify en 2021. Los crímenes reales y las noticias siguen siendo géneros populares dentro del medio, con Crime Junkie, TED Talks Daily y The Daily completando la lista.

Además de la música y los podcasts más escuchados del mundo, no olvides revisar tu propia experiencia personal Tu Resumen 2021 en la app de Spotify para ver cómo lo que escuchaste cuenta la historia de tu año. Obtén más información sobre lo que encontrarás en tu espacio Tu Resumen 2021 personal en la app de Spotify.

La espera ha terminado: aquí están las listas completas de las canciones, los artistas, álbumes y podcasts que definieron al 2021.

Artistas más escuchados globalmente 

  1. Bad Bunny
  2. Taylor Swift
  3. BTS
  4. Drake
  5. Justin Bieber

Álbumes más escuchados globalmente 

  1. SOUR de Olivia Rodrigo
  2. Future Nostalgia de Dua Lipa
  3. Justice de Justin Bieber
  4. = de Ed Sheeran
  5. Planet Her de Doja Cat

Canciones más escuchadas globalmente 

  1. “drivers license” de Olivia Rodrigo
  2. “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) de Lil Nas X
  3. “STAY (with Justin Bieber)” de The Kid LAROI
  4. “good 4 u” de Olivia Rodrigo
  5. “Levitating (feat. DaBaby)” de Dua Lipa

Podcasts más populares globalmente 

  1. The Joe Rogan Experience
  2. Call Her Daddy
  3. Crime Junkie
  4. TED Talks Daily
  5. The Daily

Celebrate Your Unique Listening Style With Spotify’s Only You In-App Experience

June 2, 2021

There are more than 356 million users on Spotify who know that listening is everything. And with more than 70 million tracks and 2.6 million podcast titles to pick from, there’s always something new to discover, share, and enjoy—but we know that nobody listens quite like you. So today, we are launching Only You, a global campaign complete with an in-app experience and personalized playlists that celebrates just that. 

While you’ll have to wait a few more months for Wrapped and the songs and podcasts that soundtracked your 2021, Only You is all about celebrating how you listen. Fans can head to Spotify.com/OnlyYou to enjoy a Wrapped-esque shareable experience made especially for them. 

Want to get the most out of Only You? Read on.

Share your stats with the in-app experience

Starting today, you can open up your Spotify app to enjoy the Only You in-app experience. Get ready for:

  1. Your Audio Birth Chart: It’s a musical meeting of cosmic proportions. Your Sun sign details the artist you listened to most over the last six months. Your Moon sign demonstrates an artist you listen to that best shows your emotional or vulnerable side. Your Rising sign brings it all together with an artist you’ve recently connected with. 
  2. Your Dream Dinner Party: Choose the three artists you’d invite to the dinner party of your dreams. Once you select the trio, Spotify will create a personalized Spotify Mix for each artist to set the mood of the meal.
  3. Your Artist Pairs: This experience demonstrates unique audio pairings that you’ve listened to recently that show your range of listening interests. For example, who else would play some Greta Van Fleet right after jamming out to Olivia Rodrigo?

Spotify Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 Earnings

February 3, 2021

Today, Spotify announced our fourth quarter 2020 financial performance. Click here to review the full earnings release, and take a look at the highlights below:

Interested in hearing more? You can listen to the webcast Q&A on the IR site here. 

Click below to check out a sizzle reel of audio trailers from a few of our recent original and exclusive podcasts. 

4 Tips to Make the Most of Your 2021 Wrapped

January 12, 2021

Every December, Spotify unveils your yearly Wrapped, a personalized in-app experience that celebrates the music and podcasts you’ve streamed the most that year. It’s something our listeners look forward to all year long. The results are always a surprise—and more so in some ways than others. Last month, when you opened your 2020 Wrapped, did you notice that your kids’ obsession with Elsa took over your Wrapped cards? Or maybe those many hours of listening to soothing audio while you slept skewed your Wrapped results. 

If that was the case, check out the four tips below to better ensure your 2021 Wrapped is a true representation of you. After all, it’s less than 11 months away.

1. Remove the audio you fall asleep to with private listening mode

If you’re streaming a lot of music or sounds to help you sleep, it may not be the most accurate representation of your listening habits. So go “incognito” with Spotify’s Private Listening mode. Private Sessions allow you to enjoy whatever it is you’re listening to discreetly—meaning it won’t show up in your Friend Activity. It also won’t influence your personalized music recommendations, like Discover Weekly or Release Radar, or be counted toward your Wrapped roundup. 

Simply turn on private listening mode on your mobile device by tapping “Home,” and then heading to “Settings.” From there, under “Social,” switch on “Private Session.” To end the Private Session, simply repeat the steps.

2. Give your children their own musical experience—and preserve your own—with Spotify Kids

If your top song slots in Wrapped went to the latest Disney ballads and nursery rhymes, know that you’re not alone. Parents give up a lot for their kids, and a Wrapped experience exclusive to their listening habits is no exception. Luckily, thanks to the Spotify Kids app, which is exclusive to Spotify Premium Family plan subscribers, children can now enjoy listening to their favorite tunes via a playground of sound that’s separate from their parents’ listening experience. The app is designed specifically for kids, and the content is handpicked by a team of editors. All you need to do is subscribe to the Premium Family plan and then Download the Spotify Kids app to give your kids a music experience of their very own (and reclaim your streaming stats). If your family is looking for songs to get groovin’ to, check out this roundup of the top songs played on Spotify Kids in 2020.

3. Discover more artists, podcasts, and genres with audio for everyone and everything

There’s a world of audio content on Spotify within your reach. So if you’re looking for something new, try the search bar on for size. You can browse playlists—whether Spotify created or user generated—for any activity or mood. These custom creations might speak to you in the moment, as well as help you expand your musical repertoire. In next year’s Wrapped, you might not only see a shift in your top artists, but also in your genres, like exchanging “indie rock” and “pop” for the uniquely specific genres like “permanent wave” and “escape room.” Or, if you’re looking to explore a different type of audio, tap “Podcasts” to browse shows by genre (like true crime or sports), by podcast playlists, or even by podcast charts. 

4. Access Wrapped year-round

Wrapped happens once a year—but it doesn’t disappear come January. Access your 2020 Wrapped year-round by heading to the “Search” section of the app and scrolling through “Browse all.” From there, you’ll be able to replay your 2020 Wrapped experience, as well as stream your personalized playlists, such as Your Top Songs 2020, Missed Hits, and On Record. Plus, keep scrolling to find the rest of the top tracks, artists, and podcasts of the year.

For more Wrapped behind the scenes, check out our Spotify: Discover This podcast.

3 Tips & Tricks to Enhance Your 2020 Wrapped Experience

December 9, 2020

Last week, we unveiled the artists, songs, and albums the world streamed the most in 2020, as well as personalized 2020 Wrapped results for our eligible Free and Premium users. By now, if you’ve indeed “unwrapped” your Wrapped, you probably learned which song you streamed the most, how many artists you discovered, and the number of hours you binged one particular podcast—but that’s not where the fun stops. 

Here are a few tips on three new features we’ve unveiled to help you get even more out of your 2020 Wrapped experience.

1. Check out the new Wrapped voice commands

Did you know you can play Spotify using your voice? Tap Search on your mobile app and you’ll find a small microphone button to the right of the bar. Hit the icon (you may have to grant the Spotify app permission to access your phone microphone if this is your first time using the feature) and simply ask Spotify to play any artist, song, or playlist.

Now, Free and Premium users in the U.S. will also be able to use that same microphone icon to ask Spotify about their Wrapped. Hear one of a dozen unique and personalized facts about your 2020 music and podcast listening habits by saying something like: 

  • “Tell me a Wrapped fact”
  • “Tell me about my listening habits”
  • “Tell me about my listening history”
  • “Tell me a 2020 listening fact”

Or you can ask it to play music featured in your Wrapped:

  • “Play my top songs from 2020”
  • “Play my top songs from this year”
  • “Play my 2020 top songs”
  • “Play my top songs playlist”
  • “Play my top songs”
  • “Play my Wrapped 2020”
  • “Play your top songs 2020”
  • “Play your top songs from this year”

2. Get fancy with our social media integrations

Users and artists love to share their Wrapped on social media channels like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat—and 2020 Wrapped sharing is already in full force. This year, users can even use two new interactive Instagram Story lenses, Kaleidoscope and Data Story Quiz, to share their reactions and test their 2020 listening knowledge. Here’s how:

  1. Navigate to Spotify’s official global Instagram profile (@Spotify).
  2. Tap the “Effects” icon (after “Grid” and “IG TV”) to reveal all of Spotify’s custom filters.
  3. Select the “Kaleidoscope” or “Data Story Quiz” lenses and tap “Try It” to check them out!

This year, we’re also adding one more social media channel to the mix: TikTok. This custom Wrapped integration for U.S. and UK TikTok users, available through Thursday, December 11, combines the best of 2020 Wrapped with custom TikTok videos. Here’s how:

  1. Open up the TikTok app and tap the Plus button to create a video.
  2. On the video recording screen, tap Effects to search for the branded 2020 Wrapped effect. 
  3. Tap the 2020 Wrapped effect icon and you’ll see a flash of color take over the screen. After the flash, the prompt “My #2020Wrapped Top _____ is” will appear.
  4. Share your completed stat with a TikTok video creation!

3. Customize your Share Cards

This year, for the first time, users can also customize their share cards before posting them to their social media feeds. On the final screen, you’ll be able to choose from one of four distinct color choices to personalize your Wrapped more than ever before.

Check out all of these features and more by heading to Spotify.com/Wrapped. 

6 New Features to ‘Unwrap’ in Your Spotify 2020 Wrapped

December 1, 2020

Yesterday we revealed the most-streamed music and podcasts on Spotify around the world in 2020, as well as some of the trends taking listening by storm. But today is all about you as the Spotify 2020 Wrapped personalized experience becomes available for listeners around the world. 

Starting today, eligible users can access their personalized Wrapped experience exclusively in the Spotify mobile app on iOS and Android. As usual, this year’s Wrapped is full of insights on the artists, songs, genres, and podcasts that defined your listening in 2020—and it’s created from data unique to each and every listener.

This year, in addition to everything fans love most about Wrapped, we’ve also added a few new features to help you dig even deeper into your listening habits. 

1. New in-app quizzes allow you to test your skills at predicting the top podcasts, artists, and even top decade you streamed most.

2. You can follow the Story of Your 2020 with your Top Song to witness your top song’s journey through the year, from its first stream to its 100th and all the notable listens in between.

3. We’ll share a deeper dive into podcast listening, complete with how many minutes users spent listening and the most binge-worthy podcast of the year.

4. Premium users can look forward to new badges that crown listeners with various titles based on the ways they listened. For example, if a number of your playlists gained significant new followers, you’ll be a Tastemaker. If you listened to a song before it was cool (aka hit 50,000 streams), you’ll get the Pioneer badge. And based on the number of songs you added to playlists this year, you just might become a Collector.

5. New personalized playlists will help you make the most of what you listened to this year. These range from Your Top Songs, the songs you loved most this year in one convenient place, to Missed Hits, our Wrapped discovery playlist where we recommend popular similar 2020 releases you didn’t listen to that we think you might like. Plus, listeners in the U.S., UK and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada can dig deeper into some of your top artists of 2020 in On Record, a mixed media experience that highlights your top 2020 artists. 

6. Finally, for the first time ever, we’re opening up the world of Wrapped to non-users. (How’s that for fighting FOMO?) Even if you’re not a Spotify subscriber, you can still check out the latest in Spotify’s global listening trends. Whether you’re looking into the most streamed podcast or the decade the world listened to the most, non-users can now join the conversation that wraps up our year in streaming. Check out the new experience at Spotify.com/Wrapped on either your desktop or your mobile browser.

As usual, today also marks the unveiling of our Wrapped Creator Experience for podcasters and artists. Creators can access their own individualized Wrapped microsite with all the ways their fans listened this year. Check out Spotify for Artists and Spotify for Podcasters to learn more.

Find even more Wrapped in our Media Kit.

Go Behind the Scenes of 2020 Wrapped on Our ‘Spotify: For the Record’ Podcast

December 1, 2020

Every December Spotify announces Wrapped, one of the most anticipated moments of the year  where we unveil the most streamed artists, albums, songs, playlists, and podcasts that defined how more than 320 million people around the world listened to and discovered audio. Whether it was to stay informed, sing along, or simply tune it all out, people kept listening and creators never missed a beat. 

If you’re eager to learn more about what artists and podcasters defined this year that was unlike any other, you can find 2020’s most-streamed lists here. Want to go behind the scenes? Check out the latest episode of our podcast Spotify: For the Record.

Today we’re chatting with Alex Bodman, Spotify’s VP, Global Executive Creative Director, who gives us a peek behind the creative process and insight into the final product. Learn how this unprecedented year influenced the campaign’s themes of “gratitude” and “resilience.”

One of the most exciting things about Wrapped is learning who, globally, is the most-streamed artist on Spotify. This year, that honor goes to Bad Bunny. In this episode, hear from Spotify’s Co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, as he calls up the Puerto Rican rapper to share the news.

And while Bad Bunny secured the top spot, our data revealed that 2020 has been a strong year overall for Latin music, with five of the top 20 most-streamed artists falling into this category. We talk to Monica Herrera Damashek, Spotify’s Head of U.S. Latin, Artist Label Partnerships in North America, to learn more about why these artists and their music resonates with so many listeners around the world.

Ready to unwrap this year’s Wrapped? Check out the episode “2020: That’s a Wrap!” 

 

This episode is no longer available as of November 2021, however you can get more great stories and news delivered audibly by following our podcasts, Spotify: For the Record, Spotify: Mic Check, and Spotify: Discover This.

Las Tendencias que Marcaron al Streaming en 2020

December 1, 2020

No hace falta decirlo: 2020 fue un año diferente a los demás. Uno que, a pesar de sus desafíos únicos, inspiró la creatividad con tantas personas encontrando formas de unirse como una comunidad resiliente. El 2020 también ha sonado de manera diferente y, en el camino, el audio ha actuado como un compañero, fortaleciendo nuestras conexiones con el mundo que nos rodea y dándonos esperanza.

La campaña Lo más escuchado llega una vez más. Para muchos de nosotros, la música y los podcasts nos ayudaron a sobrellevar el año, que es lo que hace que #MiSpotify2020 sea tan especial: durante los altibajos, la gente siguió escuchando y el audio nunca perdió el ritmo.

Entonces, ¿qué escuchó el mundo en 2020?

Artistas con más streams a nivel mundial

Este año, el puertorriqueño Bad Bunny se adjudica el primer lugar este año con más de 8.300 millones de streams de fanáticos de todo el mundo. Su álbum YHLQMDLG, lanzado a fines de febrero y con colaboraciones con Sech, Anuel AA y Daddy Yankee, es también el álbum número uno en streams. Siguiendo a Bad Bunny están Drake y la estrella de Colombia J Balvin. El cuarto artista más reproducido es el fallecido rapero Juice WRLD, seguido por The Weeknd.

Billie Eilish continúa su reinado como la artista femenina más escuchada en Spotify por segundo año consecutivo, seguida por Taylor Swift y Ariana Grande en segundo y tercer lugar. Dua Lipa y Halsey se ubican como la cuarta y quinta artistas femeninas con más streams.

Canciones más escuchadas a nivel mundial

La canción más reproducida del año es “Blinding Lights” de The Weeknd, que se mantuvo firme después de ser la segunda canción más reproducida del verano con casi 1.600 millones de reproducciones este año. En el segundo y tercer lugar, respectivamente, están “Dance Monkey“, del ex músico callejero australiano Tones And I, que se volvió viral en 2019, y “The Box.” de Roddy Ricch. La cuarta canción más reproducida es la pegajosa “Roses – Imanbek Remix” de Imanbek y SAINt JHN, seguida de “Don’t Start Now” de Dua Lipa.

Álbumes más reproducidos a nivel mundial

Después del primer lugar de Bad Bunny para el álbum más reproducido, YHLQMDLG , está After Hours , de The Weeknd y Hollywood’s Bleeding. de Post Malone. Completando la lista de los álbumes más reproducidos, encontrarás Fine Line de Harry Styles y Future Nostalgia de Dua Lipa.

Podcasts más populares a nivel mundial

Más y más podcasts llegaron a Spotify en 2020, y con más de 1.9 millones de títulos, ahora hay algo para todos. Eso incluye The Joe Rogan Experience, que ocupa el puesto número uno para el podcast más popular del año. Completando los espacios dos y tres están  TED Talks Daily y The Daily, que muestran que los oyentes se mantenían informados como de costumbre. En el número cuatro se encuentra otro show nuevo, The Michelle Obama Podcast. El quinto podcast más popular es el programa de comedia y consejos, Call Her Daddy..

Géneros de podcasts más populares a nivel mundial

Los podcasts en Spotify cubren una variedad de temas que se adaptan a los variados intereses de nuestros oyentes. ¿Qué géneros atrajeron a la gente en 2020? El primer lugar es Sociedad y cultura, un género que incluye historias espeluznantes y contenido gastronómico. El siguiente en la fila es Comedia, que no es ninguna sorpresa ya que muchos están buscando más formas de reír este año. El tercer lugar está reservado para Salud y estilo de Vida, lo que demuestra que a los oyentes les encanta acudir a los podcasts para el bienestar. Arte y entretenimiento ocupa el cuarto lugar y Educación ocupa el quinto lugar, lo que demuestra que las personas recurren a los podcasts tanto para un descanso como para aprender.

Tendencias globales del streaming en 2020

Este año, también miramos más allá de los artistas, canciones, álbumes y podcasts individuales y nos sumergimos en las tendencias que dieron forma al streaming este año, las cosas que lo hicieron sonar tan diferente.

A medida que las personas comenzaron a distanciarse de las redes sociales, vimos un aumento en playlists con temas nostálgicos, playlists con temas de trabajo desde casa y en los oyentes que escuchan podcasts de bienestar. 

También vimos cambios en la forma en que las personas escuchaban. Notamos un aumento en la escucha desde casa (a través de las playlists que crearon), así como en la cantidad de personas usando Spotify desde consolas de juegos.

Este también fue un año que exigió la amplificación de las voces de comunidades de color en canciones, playlists y podcasts, ya que personas de todo el mundo salieron a las calles para decir: Black Lives Matter.

2020 también estuvo lleno de descubrimientos a medida que más y más personas escucharon podcasts por primera vez.

¿Quieres conocer más sobre tendencias y los primeros lugares de las listas? Echa un vistazo a nuestras listas de los artistas, canciones, álbumes, grupos, y los podcasts más escuchados a continuación, y no te olvides de visitar el micrositio #MiSpotify2020 en los próximos días para ver tus favoritos personales y recibir una playlist basada en tus gustos.

Así que sin más preámbulos… 

Lo más escuchado en Spotify 2020: 

Artistas Más Escuchados a nivel global

  1. Bad Bunny
  2. Drake
  3. J Balvin
  4. Juice WRLD
  5. The Weeknd

Artistas Más Escuchadas a nivel global 

  1. Billie Eilish
  2. Taylor Swift
  3. Ariana Grande
  4. Dua Lipa
  5. Halsey

Álbumes Más Escuchados a nivel global

  1. YHLQMDLG, Bad Bunny 
  2. After Hours, The Weeknd
  3. Hollywood’s Bleeding, Post Malone 
  4. Fine Line, Harry Styles 
  5. Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa 

Canciones Más Escuchadas a nivel global 

  1. “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd
  2. “Dance Monkey” by Tones And I 
  3. “The Box” by Roddy Ricch 
  4. “Roses – Imanbek Remix” by Imanbek and SAINt JHN
  5. “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa 

Podcasts Más Populares a nivel global

  1. The Joe Rogan Experience
  2. TED Talks Daily
  3. The Daily
  4. The Michelle Obama Podcast
  5. Call Her Daddy

Géneros Más Populares 

  1. Sociedad y Cultura 
  2. Comedia
  3. Salud y Estilo de Vida
  4. Arte y Entretenimiento
  5. Educación

¿Estás listo para escuchar las canciones y podcasts más reproducidos? Visita este hub para encontrar todo de 2020. Y encontrar más en nuestro kit de medios.

Unwrapping Wrapped 2019: Spotify VP of Engineering Tyson Singer Explains

February 18, 2020

As December 2019 drew near, people around the world were feeling excited—sure, for the holidays and the New Year—but also for Wrapped. For the past couple of years, Spotify has launched the elaborate end-of-year campaign showcasing the top songs, artists, albums, and, more recently, podcasts that users streamed the most throughout the year.

Last year’s Wrapped was no different, and with the dawn of a new decade, we also took a look back at the last 10 years of streaming.

But how was it all done? How were we able to deliver a seamless personalized experience for more than 200 million users across the globe around a decade’s worth of streaming data?

Well, we’re glad you asked.

For the Record’s Top Stories of 2019

December 23, 2019

It’s been quite a year for Spotify. At For the Record we captured it all—from major milestones and playlist launches to Q&As with the biggest names in the business—plus some “bonus tracks.” But we couldn’t have done it without you, our readers, and your never-ending curiosity. That’s why we’ve rounded up the stories that resonated most around the world in 2019—and make us excited for the year ahead. 

Whether you caught them the first time around or are just joining us now, take a look at some of For the Record’s biggest hits.

Astrologer Chani Nicholas shared how music matches your horoscope 

“What’s your sign?” Whether you love or hate the question, the cultural obsession made its mark this year. Astrology is no longer simply synonymous with bold predictions about love, fame, and fortune. Instead, it’s attracting more and more people who use horoscope readings as a way to reflect and find direction in their lives. Music can provide that same effect, and that’s why we worked with astrologer Chani Nicholas to create Cosmic Playlists. Check it out and see what’s in store.

CEO Daniel Ek wrote that we’re going “Audio-First”

Early this year, our CEO Daniel Ek explained our goal of becoming the world’s number one audio platform—and how that takes us beyond just music. He also announced the addition of podcasting companies Anchor and Gimlet to Spotify. Then, later in 2019, we shared the acquisition of Parcast. We are family.

We introduced Spotify Lite for our users around the world

We believe that music is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of network connectivity, data plan, or access to the latest phone. That’s why we introduced Spotify Lite earlier this year. Lite is a small, fast, and simplified version of our unparalleled music experience that works much like the main Spotify app. You can still search and play your favorite songs and artists, as well as save them, share with others, discover new music, and enjoy playlists made just for you. But it also includes a few extra features that make it ideal for older devices and operating systems. See if it’s available in your market. 

We got hooked on two new personalized playlists: On Repeat and Repeat Rewind 

This past fall, we released two more personalized discovery options into the mix of Discover Weekly and Release Radar: On Repeat and Repeat Rewind. These playlists let you listen to your favorite tracks from the past 30 days and the not-so-far-off past. They were stuck in your head then; they’ll get stuck in your head now. 

We launched Spotify Kids: A new standalone app for the next generation of listeners 

We’re committed to bringing audio content such as music and stories, to more people in more ways—including the next generation of listeners. That’s why we recently launched a fun standalone app designed with safety in mind specifically for kids and families. If you’re a Family Plan user, check it out for your little ones. 

We revealed the top Songs, artists, playlists, and podcasts of 2019—and the last decade

As 2019 draws to a close, so too does a stellar year of streaming on Spotify. We dove into the newcomers, showstoppers, and top performers who united the globe with music and podcasts this year. And ahead of the brand-new decade, we also looked back on the last 10 years in music to reveal who dominated global listening. Take a look at the toppers—or check out your own Spotify Wrapped.  

While the last decade has come and gone, there’s one thing we know for sure: if 2020 is anything like 2019, it’s going to be a good one. Stay tuned into the For the Record newsletter to stay up-to-date on all things Spotify in the year ahead.

What Elsa from ‘Frozen 2,’ Eleven from ‘Stranger Things,’ and Lyra from ‘His Dark Materials’ Streamed on Spotify This Year

December 12, 2019

Just last week, Spotify released our annual Wrapped campaign, giving hundreds of millions of users around the globe the ability to relive their year in listening. Fans, artists, and podcasters alike flooded social media with their stats, reactions, and reflections about what they (and their listeners) streamed in 2019. It dominated headlines and social feeds, creating a lot of buzz—and a lot of feelings.

So we thought: What if our favorite fictional characters had feelings [about their favorite music and podcasts] too?

Besides revealing everyone’s top song and artist of the decade as well as the year, we’re also sharing what we think some of everyone’s favorite fictional characters would have on their Wrapped cards. Too real? Take a look below.

Disney’s Frozen 2

We couldn’t let this one go…. Disney’s global hit film, Frozen 2, which was released November 22, brought back some beloved characters like royal sisters Anna and Elsa, lovable snowman Olaf, and rugged outdoorsman Kristoff. This crew’s adventures take them far beyond Arendelle, so you can bet they’d be playing pick-me-up songs and podcasts to help them stay strong as they venture into the unknown.