Spotify Update April' 21
The latest update from partners at Spotify…
Loud & Clear
Spotify have recently unveiled Loud & Clear, a new microsite which aims to increase transparency by sharing new data on the global streaming economy and breaking down the royalty system, the players, and the process.
Artists want the opportunity to make a living from their work, and Spotify want that, too. Although more artists than ever are finding success through streaming, there is more to do. The Loud & Clear site demystifies how the money flows while also sharing more context when it comes to streaming numbers and how they stack up on Spotify. Spotify’s founder and CEO Daniel Ek recently discussed the economics of music streaming on For The Record blog, while a recent episode of our For The Record podcast continues the conversation in more detail.
EQUAL - empowering women creators
On International Women’s Day last month, Spotify announced the launch of a new campaign, EQUAL, to demonstrate the organisation’s commitment to fostering equity for women in audio and celebrating their global contributions.
More to come on EQUAL soon. The campaign will include partnerships, activations, new content experiences, and on- and off-platform support on local, regional, and international levels. Finally, it will also call on users to actively take control of their listening habits, making sure they play more women creators, no matter the day. For now, check out the EQUAL hub - a one-stop destination which highlights the work of women artists and podcasters - and WOMN, a music + talk show featuring diverse creators discussing women-centered topics.
News playlist, who dis?
free refills: a genre-less playlist with a sole focus on feel-good music, serving up catalogue tracks amongst frontline content in a fresh format. Artists you can expect to hear include Harry Styles, Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead, Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift, BROCKHAMPTON, Passion Pit and Phoebe Green.
the locker: a playlist with a focus on frontline, catalogue and viral rock tracks which will serve the new generation of the pop rock community. Artists you can expect to hear include Machine Gun Kelly, Yungblud, Maggie Lindemann, jxdn, Twenty One Pilots, YONAKA, Bring Me The Horizon and Paramore.
New product updates
New features to the Home interface on mobile to make navigation and discovery even simpler. Spotify have also rolled out a new and improved look and feel for the Spotify app for desktop and web, aligning the experience and making both easier to use. And Spotify recently became available in 36 new languages, bringing the platform total to 62 languages - part of their commitment to building a truly borderless audio ecosystem.
Recently Spotify announced the acquisition of Locker Room, a live audio app. Creators and fans alike have been asking for live formats on Spotify, and soon this will be available to hundreds of millions of listeners and millions of creators. In the coming months, Spotify will evolve and expand Locker Room into an enhanced live audio experience for a wider range of creators and fans. Through this new live experience, they will offer a range of music, sports, and cultural programming, as well as a host of interactive features that will enable creators to connect with audiences in real time.
If you’re curious to learn more about Spotify’s product strategy and development, from the very first desktop app to the new formats being explored right now, check out the new podcast miniseries, Spotify: A Product Story. In it, Chief R&D Officer, Gustav Söderström, shares insider stories of Spotify’s product journey - as told by the people who built it.
Co.Lab sessions podcast
Co.Lab was launched back in 2018, a series of events to bring together top industry experts with up-and-coming artists to discuss some of the ever-evolving topics affecting creators. It was a place to hear what a given expert or established artist had to say about everything from sync placements and prepping for your next release to understanding and protecting your financial assets and using your identity to stay fresh.
Now Co.Lab has gone virtual as a digital event series where experts speak to thousands of artists via Zoom. This new format enables artists from all over the world to tune in from anywhere, and instead of videos, they have turned the expert’s tips into short, snackable podcasts, distilling 40-minute conversations into the most critical takeaways. Check out the Co.Lab Sessions podcast here for the latest conversations and tips on everything from looking after your mental health and working from home to timing and planning a release and generating demand for your music.
How can Spotify help?
If you need help, Spotify have dedicated resources and support teams for that. Check out the new help section on Spotify For Artists for resources at your fingertips. Whether you need help with managing an artist profile or team in Spotify For Artists, managing or fixing problems with your music, pitching your releases or understanding your data, the Help section can point you in the right direction. They also have a central guide to resources on playlisting on Spotify, including artist stories, tips for submitting your pitch, and insights from playlist editors.