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  • Spotify Jams could soon get a chat feature

    Spotify Jams could soon get a chat feature

    Spotify, the popular music streaming service, might be adding a new feature to its Jam sessions. A recent breakdown of the Spotify app code, known as an APK teardown, revealed a hidden “Chats” feature with the codename “campfire.” This discovery suggests that Spotify may be working on adding a chat function to Jam sessions, allowing friends to have conversations while listening to music together.

    Spotify Jam is a feature that allows premium subscribers to create a shared playlist with friends. Whether in person or virtually, friends can listen to and add songs to the queue together. However, it currently lacks an in-app chat function, forcing users to switch to other apps to communicate. This upcoming addition of a chat feature would address this issue and enhance the social aspect of Jam sessions.

    While the code for this chat feature appears to be a work in progress, its presence hints that Spotify is actively developing it. Based on the limited code found, it seems that this feature is specifically designed for group conversations within Jam sessions. Although not yet confirmed, it’s possible that Spotify is already internally testing the feature.

    The ability to chat directly within the Spotify app during Jam sessions would be a welcome addition for users, particularly during virtual sessions where face-to-face communication isn’t possible. It would eliminate the need to switch between apps to message friends and create a more seamless and integrated social experience.

    It’s important to note that APK teardowns offer a glimpse into potential future features, but they don’t guarantee that these features will be officially released. However, this discovery does indicate that Spotify is exploring ways to enhance the social aspect of its platform and make Jam sessions more interactive and engaging for users.

    As Spotify continues to refine and develop this chat feature, it will be interesting to see how it integrates with Jam sessions and what additional functionalities it might offer. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for further updates on this potential addition to Spotify’s features.

  • Spotify Premium prices jump again in the US

    Spotify Premium prices jump again in the US

    Spotify raised its subscription prices in the US last July, increasing the Premium individual plan by $1 to $10.99. This was just two years after a similar price hike for the Family plan in 2021. Now, a year later, Spotify is bumping up prices again. This time, all plans, including Premium Duo and Family, are affected.

    Beginning in July 2024, Spotify Premium will see a $1 increase, bringing its price to $11.99. Meanwhile, the Premium Duo plan will experience a $2 hike, raising its cost to $16.99. The Family plan will undergo the biggest increase, jumping $3 from $16.99 to $19.99.

    New users trying out Spotify will pay the current rate for the first month of their trial. After that, they will start getting charged at the higher price from their next billing cycle. Wondering why Spotify is hiking its premium plan prices again? Well, the company says:

    We’re increasing the price of Premium Individual plan so that we can continue to invest in and innovate on our product offerings and features, and bring you the best experience.

    Spotify dropped the news about the price hike in a blog post and plans to send emails to its current users. This bump in the US comes hot on the heels of a similar move in key global markets like the UK and Australia, announced just recently.

    However, the increase in prices probably won’t slow down Spotify’s expansion. Despite the hike last year, the Swedish company managed to reel in a whopping 113 million free users and 31 million paid ones in 2023. Along with some layoffs, this move helped the company bounce back, reaching more than 600 million users and almost $4 billion in revenue in Q4 2023.

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  • Amazon Music takes on Spotify with Maestro, an AI-powered playlist generator

    Amazon Music takes on Spotify with Maestro, an AI-powered playlist generator

    Spotify’s AI DJ raised the bar for music streaming, and now Amazon Music is throwing its hat into the ring with Maestro. This new AI-powered playlist feature is currently rolling out in beta to select Amazon Music users in the US on iOS and Android.

    If you’re part of the rollout, you’ll spot Maestro either on your home screen after updating the app, or by hitting the plus button to create a new playlist. However, where things get interesting is how you create them. Maestro uses natural language, meaning you don’t need technical terms to build your playlists.

    With Maestro, everything starts with a simple prompt telling it what you want to hear. Want a playlist bursting with energy? Type “songs to get me pumped!” or maybe “upbeat summer jams”. Maestro even understands emojis, in case you’re struggling to find the words to describe your mood best.

    However, Amazon is clear: this is a beta feature. Maestro, like any new AI tool, will probably have some hits and misses as it learns what you like. They’ve even built-in safeguards to try to block offensive language or prompts that are just too inappropriate.

    As a brand-new feature, Maestro is currently accessible to a limited number of Amazon Music users across Free, Prime, and Unlimited tiers. If you’re in the beta, you’ll see the option front-and-center in the app. While Unlimited subscribers can instantly listen to and save their generated playlists, Prime and free-tier users get 30-second previews to help them decide if the playlist is a good fit.

    The battle for your ears is getting interesting. Spotify jumped ahead with its AI DJ, but Amazon’s Maestro signals that the competition isn’t far behind. Soon, generating playlists based on moods, vibes, or even bizarrely specific requests might become the standard way we listen to music.

  • Your Spotify subscription may be about to go up in price

    Your Spotify subscription may be about to go up in price

    Spotify, the music streaming giant, is shaking things up with price hikes and a new subscription plan. If you love Spotify but hate ads, get ready to dig a little deeper into those pockets.

    Bloomberg reports that Spotify will raise prices soon. By the end of April, those premium subscriptions in places like the UK, Australia, and Pakistan will go Spotify, the music streaming giant, is shaking things up with price hikes and a new subscription plan. If you love Spotify but hate ads, get ready to dig a little deeper into those pockets.

    Bloomberg reports that Spotify will raise prices soon. By the end of April, those premium subscriptions in places like the UK, Australia, and Pakistan will go up – $1 more for individuals and $2 for couples and families. The U.S. will not be an exception to this, only the price hike will be coming later in the year.

    Here’s where it gets interesting: Spotify is reportedly adding a new $11/month tier – the same price as the current Premium plan. This one gets you ad-free music and podcasts, but audiobooks are off the table. Simply, if you want audiobooks, you’ll have to pay extra.

    This is intriguing considering that Spotify just launched its $9.99 audiobooks plan last month. In addition, it bundled in 15 free hours of audiobook content to the premium plan in the U.S. Spotify has been pretty consistent with prices until last year’s hike. So why are they enacting a price hike now? There are two big reasons I can think of:

    Audiobooks cost money: Adding audiobooks meant making deals with publishers. Spotify needs cash to cover those costs on top of what they already pay for music.
    Record labels want their cut: Spotify hoped audiobooks would lessen their dependence on music deals. But record labels weren’t happy about potentially getting paid less, so they pushed for higher prices to make up for it.

    The question now is whether users will consider having audiobooks a good enough reason to warrant a $1/month price hike, or if they will switch plans to stay at the same price point as before. It’s also hard to say if people will jump ship over this.

    Last year’s hike didn’t scare away users, considering that Spotify actually gained subscriptions afterward. However, only time will tell how this latest round will impact their loyal listeners.up – $1 more for individuals and $2 for couples and families. The U.S. will not be an exception to this, only the price hike will be coming later in the year.

    Here’s where it gets interesting: Spotify is reportedly adding a new $11/month tier – the same price as the current Premium plan. This one gets you ad-free music and podcasts, but audiobooks are off the table. Simply, if you want audiobooks, you’ll have to pay extra.

    This is intriguing considering that Spotify just launched its $9.99 audiobooks plan last month. In addition, it bundled in 15 free hours of audiobook content to the premium plan in the U.S. Spotify has been pretty consistent with prices until last year’s hike. So why are they enacting a price hike now? There are two big reasons I can think of:

    Audiobooks cost money: Adding audiobooks meant making deals with publishers. Spotify needs cash to cover those costs on top of what they already pay for music.
    Record labels want their cut: Spotify hoped audiobooks would lessen their dependence on music deals. But record labels weren’t happy about potentially getting paid less, so they pushed for higher prices to make up for it.

    Your Spotify subscription may be about to go up in price
    Credit: Spotify

    The question now is whether users will consider having audiobooks a good enough reason to warrant a $1/month price hike, or if they will switch plans to stay at the same price point as before. It’s also hard to say if people will jump ship over this.

    Last year’s hike didn’t scare away users, considering that Spotify actually gained subscriptions afterward. However, only time will tell how this latest round will impact their loyal listeners.

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  • Spotify launches video course trial in the UK

    Spotify launches video course trial in the UK

    Spotify, the audio streaming giant, is diving into a whole new realm of content – educational video courses. In an announcement today, the company is revealing a launch that begins today for U.K. users, offering a variety of engaging courses to choose from.

    This move signals a shift in Spotify’s approach to content. No longer just about music, podcasts, or audiobooks, the platform is now catering to those seeking personal and professional development. They’ve teamed up with renowned educational tech companies, including BBC Maestro, PLAYvirtuoso, Skillshare, and Thinkific, to offer a curated selection of high-quality video courses.

    Spotify’s initial video course offerings span four key areas:

    1. Make Music: Dive into the world of music production and instrument mastery.
    2. Get Creative: Unleash your artistic potential with courses in photography, design, or writing.
    3. Learn Business: Gain valuable skills for entrepreneurship and career advancement.
    4. Healthy Living: Discover techniques for mindfulness, fitness, and wellness.

    Babar Zafar, VP Product Development at Spotify, spoke of this U.K.-based test as an opportunity to explore how to serve the Spotify community better and give them what they are actively interested in by stating: “Many of our users engage with podcasts and audiobooks on a daily basis for their learning needs, and we believe this highly engaged community will be interested in accessing and purchasing quality content from video course creators.” This recognizes a growing trend: many users already enjoy podcasts and audiobooks for self-improvement, and educational video courses are a natural extension of this.

    Spotify is encouraging its U.K. free and premium subscribers to take advantage of this new feature, as they will be able to try out for free for a couple of lessons before having to make a purchasing decision. These courses will be available on the Home and Browse tabs in the mobile app as well as on the web. However, once registered for a course, it will be available on both mobile and the desktop.

    It is unclear if there are plans to bring this feature to users outside the U.K. if this test proves successful. However, the company does state that should this occur, it could pave the way for a more expansive video-based learning experience directly on the Spotify platform.

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  • Spotify to launch new Audiobooks feature in April

    Spotify to launch new Audiobooks feature in April

    After bringing music videos to Premium users in select markets, Spotify announced a brand-new feature coming to Audiobooks in April: Countdown Pages.

    This is the same feature that’s been successful for music releases. It allows Spotify users to “pre-save” audiobooks prior to a book’s release date, while authors and publishers can promote their new titles ahead of launch.

    Once an audiobook is pre-saved, a timer countdown will be visible above it until its launch. When the book is actually released, Spotify will notify users so they know they can start listening to it.

    Thanks to Countdown Pages, Spotify users can search for titles on the streaming service as soon as they’re announced. After next month’s update, a “Pre-save” CTA on pages of the books that haven’t been released yet. Additionally, a “More like this” tab will show users similar released book that they can start listening to straight away.

    Countdown Pages for Spotify will be available in all markets where Audiobooks are available beginning in mid-April.

    Since it was released back in 2023, users have played more than 150,000 unique titles through Spotify’s premium service. With a catalog of over 200,000 titles, Spotify believes that there’s room for improvement when it comes to the number of listeners engaging with audiobooks, especially considering that the streaming service has a user base of over 600 million.

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  • Tidal lowers pricing of its HiFi lossless music subscription to match Spotify

    Tidal lowers pricing of its HiFi lossless music subscription to match Spotify

    While every other video and audio streaming company is either battling it out or raising its subscription costs sans ads, Tidal today made a surprising move: slashing the price of its high-quality lossless audio plan. This bold change positions Tidal as a truly compelling option alongside streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music.

    Previously, Tidal’s HiFi lossless subscription cost $20 per month—almost double the price of Spotify’s popular $10.99 plan. Now, Tidal is dropping the price to match Spotify’s exact cost. With the HiFi and HiFi Plus tiers gone and combined into one TIDAL tier, the service will now cost you $10.99 USD a month for an individual subscription.

    Families will be transitioned to the new TIDAL Family plan, which will cost $16.99 USD a month. Additionally, Tidal will offer its DJ Extension as an add-on for individual plans, which will cost an additional $9 USD a month and allow users to access, stream, and mix music from the service’s DJ partners.

    But it’s not all great news, particularly for those that were on TIDAL’s free tier, which will no longer exist. As per the company announcement, anyone on the free tier will now need to sign up for a paid plan in order to continue using the service. You gain some. You lose some.

    It is important to note that, while both TIDAL and Spotify now share a price point, their offerings differ. Spotify boasts a huge music catalog and excellent music discovery features. It’s a crowd favorite, especially for casual listeners who love finding new tunes. However, Tidal’s edge lies in its superior lossless audio quality, making it irresistible for serious audiophiles with high-end equipment.

    Until recently, music lovers wanting lossless quality had a clear choice: Tidal or Apple Music. Spotify’s continued delays in rolling out their promised lossless tier have left users frustrated. Tidal’s pricing shift, effective April 10th, puts serious pressure on Spotify to step up.

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  • No dedicated Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify apps for the Vision Pro

    No dedicated Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify apps for the Vision Pro

    It was back in July when we first told you that Netflix wasn’t planning a dedicated app for the Vision Pro. And while those planning to shell out $3,499 for the Vision Pro might have hoped that Netflix would change its mind, that is not the case, as the spatial computer kicked off pre-orders today in the U.S. Other streamers have announced plans to build an app for the Vision Pro including  Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount Plus. The device will be released on February 2nd.

    Netflix also notes that it is not making its iPad app available to Vision Pro users, which means that the only way for Netflix subscribers to stream using the Vision Pro is to use the Safari browser and visit the Netflix website. Unlike those viewing content on one of the aforementioned streamers supporting Vision Pro, movies, television shows, and documentaries viewed on Netflix will not feel so immersive.

    Netflix spokesperson Kumiko Hidaka said, “Our members will be able to enjoy Netflix on the web browser on the Vision Pro, similar to how our members can enjoy Netflix on Macs.” However, certain features that Netflix subscribers can enjoy on mobile platforms, such as viewing content offline, will not be made available to Vision Pro users. Netflix might have decided that it was best to wait and see how popular Vision Pro would become before deciding to spend time and money on a dedicated app for the platform.

    Disney+ is taking a different tact and has decided to go all-in on Vision Pro. Subscribers can view streaming Disney+ content in one of four immersive environments, including one based on Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre. Others are based on Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., Avengers Tower from Marvel’s Avengers films, and one environment made for Star Wars fans is set in the cockpit of a landspeeder located in the Tatooine desert.

    Disney, constantly rumored to be a possible acquisition for Apple, loves Vision Pro. Bob Iger, Disney CEO, says, “At Disney, we’re constantly searching for new ways to entertain, inform, and inspire by combining exceptional creativity with groundbreaking technology to create truly remarkable experiences. Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary platform that will bring our fans closer to the characters and stories they love while immersing them more deeply in all Disney offers. We’re proud to be once again partnering with Apple to bring extraordinary new Disney experiences to people worldwide.”

    If Vision Pro becomes a hot commodity, Netflix could decide to develop a dedicated Vision Pro app for future versions of the spatial computer. Other high-profile streamers that are not launching apps for Vision Pro include Google’s YouTube video streamer and audio streamer Spotify.

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  • Spotify launches pilot Voice Translation for podcasts

    Spotify launches pilot Voice Translation for podcasts

    While everyone is anxious to learn more about Spotify’s HiFi tier, the streaming company announced the launch of a much smaller new feature: Voice Translation for podcasts.

    The pilot Voice Translation for podcasts is a new feature powered by AI, which does exactly what the name suggests: it translates podcasts into additional languages in podcaster’s voice.

    Developed in partnership with OpenAI, Voice Translation will match the original speaker’s voice for a more authentic listening experience. Thanks to the new feature, a podcast episode originally recorded in English will be available in other languages while keeping the speaker’s speech characteristics.

    In the same piece of news, Spotify announced that it has worked with popular podcasters such as Dax Shepard, Monica Padman, Lex Fridman, Bill Simmons, and Steven Bartlett as part of the pilot.

    According to Spotify, the first voice-translated episodes from pilot creators will be available worldwide to Premium and free users. However, the initial bundle of translated episodes will only be available in Spanish, with French and German rolling out in the coming days and weeks.

    Starting today, the following podcast episodes will be rolled out to users on the respective Now Playing View:

    • Lex Fridman Podcast – “Interview with Yuval Noah Harari”
    • Armchair Expert – “Kristen Bell, by the grace of god, returns”
    • The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett – “Interview with Dr. Mindy Pelz”

    In other news, Spotify revealed that more than 100 million people regularly listen to podcasts on its streaming platform, which shows that there’s a huge audience for those willing to create this type of content.

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  • Spotify added new ones for Android

    Spotify added new ones for Android

    Alright, let’s hear it. “Widgets suck!”, “they are archaic!” and “nobody uses them!”. Did I get that right? Well, mister-sir, if that was the case, then would one of the biggest streaming platforms — Spotify, which we all got installed on some of the best phones available today — update its widget selection for Android?

    “Ah, but manufacturers and developers are so outdated with people’s needs” you say? Well, then let me raise you this: what is one of the most used features on Spotify? Discover weekly, which allows you to find new artists and jams to rock out to.

    Now, can you guess what these new widgets are adding? That’s right: recommendations based on your listening habits, which is pretty much like an instant-discovery queue. But before I defend the concept of widgets further, let’s explain these new ones from Spotify.

    It took two years for Spotify to update its selection, so I don’t know how archaic the concept is, but I can certainly back up the statement that it is stagnant at times. Anyway, the new widgets total out at two types with both seeming really intuitive.

    First off we’ve got the new generic widget, which shows you what you are listening to, the song’s cover artwork — and now that’s what you call a complete package! — and, of course, media controls such as play, pause, next, etc.

    But then we’ve got the new widget, which incorporates all of the above, but also expands on the concept. It can go from a 3×2 size up to a 5×2, which allows for up to five personalized suggestions to show up beneath what is currently playing.

    And, yes, those can be anything from songs and albums to podcasts and audiobooks (where applicable). This new widget was announced last month in July, but it rolled out with version 8.8.50, which means that you may have a Spotify update pending right now.

    But beyond that, my last argument regarding widgets is this: imagine that you have a household tablet that you use for smart home and media controls. Now, wouldn’t having all necessary controls in a sleek and clean manner directly on your home screen just make sense?

    Hence, widgets can really be cool. Are they cool enough to make the transition from this theoretical tablet to your phone? That, in my opinion, depends on style. But it’s absolutely better that we have them still be a thing in 2023.

  • Spotify enables patron-exclusive podcasts via new Patreon integration

    Spotify enables patron-exclusive podcasts via new Patreon integration

    Spotify is the most recent company starting to offer content creators financial incentives. The music streaming service announced this week that it has added Patreon integration to allow creators to monetize their content via exclusive podcasts.

    Patreon, a membership platform that offers the business tools for content creators to run a subscription service, was in the middle of a controversy early this month when major technical issues led to paused payouts and canceled subscriptions.

    Thankfully for the millions of creators using the platform, these issues have been solved (at least for many of them), so the company can now go live with the announcement.

    Starting today, connecting Spotify and Patreon accounts to access patron-exclusive podcasts direction from the music streaming service’s app is possible. This is a follow-up of Spotify’s March announcement that it’s teaming up with Patreon to allow creators to publish their subscriber feeds to Spotify via its API.

    “Many podcasters use Patreon to connect with their fans, and for the first time ever, they can link their accounts so fans can access and listen to these shows on Spotify. This partnership gives podcasters a new opportunity to reach Spotify’s global audience, over 551M users, to increase their income and grow their show,” said Gustav Söderström, Co-President and Chief Product and Technology Officer at Spotify.

    Patreon integration has been in testing for months at Spotify, as select creators have been enrolled in a beta program that helped them promote and gain new members to their Patreon through Spotify.

    Thanks to the new feature, Spotify users will be able to listen to all their favorite content in one place, while Patreon podcasters tap into new audiences on Spotify. The new partnership feels like a win-win situation, at least on paper.

  • Spotify announces price hikes in over 50 countries, including the US and UK

    Spotify announces price hikes in over 50 countries, including the US and UK

    It looks like last week’s report regarding Spotify Premium’s price adjustments was accurate. As expected, Spotify announced today it will increase the prices of its Premium plan in over 50 countries, not just in the United States as the report claimed.

    The number one music streaming service in the US confirmed it has more than 200 million Premium subscribers worldwide, so in order to keep innovating it must adjust prices of the Premium plan. If you’re living in the United States, the new prices of the Premium plans are as follows:

    • Premium Single: $10.99
    • Premium Duo: $14.99
    • Premium Family: $16.99
    • Premium Student: $5.99

    These price adjustments are taking effect today, so if you’re an existing customer you’ll receive an email explaining what it means for your account. In addition to the price changes in the United States, Spotify announced that it’s changing Premium prices across a number of markets around the world.

    If you live in one of these countries, expect your Spotify Premium price to increase very soon: Andorra, Albania, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Croatia, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Thailand, Türkiye, and Kosovo.

    The price changes in the countries listed above might be different than the price hikes in the US. But just for the sake of comparison, the Premium Single, Family and Student plans are going up by $1, while the Premium Duo plan price has been increased by $2. In any case, if you’re already subscribed, then Spotify should send you an email about the price increase, so you’ll know what to expect starting next month.

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  • Spotify to raise prices of its Premium plan in the US

    Spotify to raise prices of its Premium plan in the US

    Spotify will no longer remain one of the few music streaming services in the US not to increase its subscription prices. Just about every other player in the market raised prices in the last year or so, while Spotify benefited from influx of customers that decided to switch services. Unfortunately, that didn’t last long, as Spotify is about to raise prices too.

    Spotify plans to raise the monthly subscription prices in the US by $1. That means that the price of the ad-free $9.99 plan will become $10.99 per month in the United States. Spotify is reportedly expected to announce as early as next week, but only for the US market.

    The bad news is price hikes will be announced for many other markets too in the following weeks, although it’s unclear where and when these changes will be introduced. Spotify has been keeping the price of its premium plan stuck on the $9.99 psychological threshold for quite some time, but that’s about to change for customers in the US.

    Currently, Spotify offers a free, ad-supported plan that provides access to over 80 million songs, podcasts and audiobooks, downloadable podcasts, the ability to take the music with your when traveling abroad (for 14 days only), and the option to pick and play any track on mobile (select playlists only).

    The Premium plan still costs $9.99 and doesn’t have the limitations that the free plan has. On top of that, it allows subscribers to download music and podcasts, play songs in any order, and listen to the highest music quality. Of course, there will be no ads running while listening to Spotify if you’re subscribed to the Premium plan.

    Students get 50% off Premium for up to 4 years, while Premium Duo offers two people living together the option to get their own Premium account for 1 discount price. Also, the Premium Family covers up to 6 people living together each getting their own Premium account for 1 discount price. The Family plan comes with Spotify Kids and explicit filter.

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  • Spotify and Calm collaborate to bring transformative content to users worldwide

    Spotify and Calm collaborate to bring transformative content to users worldwide

    Calm, the meditation and sleep app with over 4 million users worldwide, has joined forces with Spotify in an unprecedented collaboration. This partnership aims to provide a range of transformative content from Calm to support individuals on their mental health journey. The content is now accessible on Spotify’s platform.

    The collaboration between Calm and Spotify is made possible through Spotify Open Access (SOA), an initiative introduced in 2021. SOA enables companies to offer paid content on Spotify, catering to different subscriber tiers. This means that users can access and enjoy paid content from other platforms, such as books or articles they have purchased, directly on Spotify.

    It is important to note that a Premium subscription to Calm is required to gain access to all its content on Spotify. Otherwise, only a limited set of stories and music is available for streaming on Spotify.

    Recognizing the challenge of finding time for mindfulness amidst daily life’s busy demands, Calm has partnered with Spotify, making some of its finest content readily available in the Spotify podcast catalog.

    With eleven Calm shows now on Spotify, individuals can benefit from a range of mental well-being support. The content includes some of the most popular sleep stories, meditations, mindfulness exercises, and more, all designed to facilitate better sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, and cultivate mindful habits.

    The strategic collaboration between Calm and Spotify brings significant advantages for both parties. Calm’s esteemed content gains access to Spotify’s vast user base of approximately 515 million monthly active users, amplifying its reach and impact.

    The partnership between Calm and Spotify provides an exciting opportunity for users to conveniently enhance their mental well-being. By leveraging the power of Spotify Open Access, Calm’s transformative content is now just a click away for individuals seeking relaxation, stress reduction, and better sleep.

  • Spotify targets Gen Z Filipino and Indonesian listeners with local artists in new brand film

    Spotify targets Gen Z Filipino and Indonesian listeners with local artists in new brand film

    Spotify aims to connect with their Gen Z Filipino and Indonesian listeners through their new “Music That Finds You” campaign that illustrates the streaming platform’s personalized music discovery services.

    The campaign, which stars Pinoy hip-hop artists Nik Makino and Flow G and Indonesian rock band NOAH, will span across film, television, OOH, and digital assets.

    “Gen Z are voracious consumers of Spotify’s library of audio content,” said Jan-Paul Jeffrey, SEA head of marketing, Spotify.

    “They play more than 578 billion minutes of music in Indonesia and the Philippines and are more engaged with digital audio than any other generation,” he continued.

    The brand film which features Nik Makino and Flow G for the Philippines begins with an individual struggling to study for her college entrance exams. When she presses play on the Discover Weekly personalized playlist, a light, reminiscent of a bat signal, shines from her bedroom window

    The hip hop duo then ziplines through the city from the party they were at to the protagonist’s house to perform for her as she resumes her studying while bopping along with them.

    The brand film brings the magic of Spotify to life and showcases the cultural influence Spotify has on Gen Z listeners that witness how niche homegrown artists are able to amass streams on Spotify, according to a statement by the brand.

    “As the world’s largest global music streaming service, Spotify has the unique ability to reach youths plugged into culture and provide them with an avenue to foster more meaningful connections with artists and podcasters they love,” added Jeffrey.

    Similarly, the advertisement for Indonesia begins with an individual playing their Discover Weekly playlist before starting their morning when members from NOAH parachute out of an airplane filled with other artists.

    As NOAH rocks out with the protagonist in his front yard, the advertisement emphasizes the playlist’s capabilities to provide listeners with personalized music that will make their day better.

    Along with Discover Weekly, Spotify has Daily Mixes and their Time Capsule which are both tailored specifically to each individual listener, while features such as BLEND offer a social experience for any two listeners with a shared playlist.

    As Spotify improves its services for their listeners, last month the streaming platform announced that it would be conducting another round of layoffs, just a few months after its previous wave of job cuts.

    This particular wave affects the podcast division, wherein approximately 2% of Spotify’s workforce in this division will be let go.

    According to Spotify in a statement, it is expanding its partnership efforts with leading podcasters from across the globe, with a tailored approach optimized for each show and creator which marks a fundamental pivot for Spotify in order to support the creator community better.