Tag: brazil

Chart-Topping Chilean Podcast ‘Caso 63’ Gears Up for Season 2—And Announces an English-Language Adaptation

September 29, 2021

Since its release in November 2020, Spotify Original podcast Caso 63 has been topping charts and taking on new markets. The 10-episode Chilean science fiction story has become the most-listened-to scripted Original podcast in Latin America and was even adapted for Brazilian and Indian listeners as well. To continue this tale’s captivating hold, Spotify will be releasing an English-language adaptation of this story in the United States, premiering in late 2021. But perhaps the most exciting news for fans and could-be fans is that the team behind Caso 63 will be releasing a second season later this year, with creator Julio Rojas at the helm.

Season one of Caso 63 centers on the interactions between fictional psychiatrist Elisa Aldunate  and her client, “Patient 63.” Each episode marks a new “session,” and as the story progresses, time, space, and reality begin to blur. Over the course of 10 episodes, this thought-provoking mystery plays with listeners’ minds and causes them to question what is and isn’t real.

Caso 63’s popularity with listeners has helped the show reach a new milestone within podcasting: This is the first time a non-English-language Spotify Original podcast has been adapted to multiple languages. The Chilean show, which stars actors Antonia Zegers and Néstor Cantillana, received so much buzz that, less than a year after its release, Spotify adapted the thrilling mystery into a Portuguese-language version, Paciente 63, featuring Brazilian actors Seu Jorge and Mel Lisboa. And earlier this month, Spotify India created a Hindi-language adaptation of the podcast called Virus 2062, starring Bollywood actors and husband-and-wife duo Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal. Now, casting is underway for the English-language adaptation.

But even before breaking a Spotify record, its large following was also reflected in the charts with Caso 63 ranking number one on Argentina’s and Mexico’s Top Podcasts charts for nearly a month following its premiere. It also reached number one on the Trending Podcasts charts in Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, and the U.S.

Non-Spanish speaking listeners are loving the show just as much. In India, the adaptation, Virus 2062, reached number one on Spotify’s local Trending chart and landed on the top five on Spotify’s local Top Podcasts charts. The Brazilian adaptation, Paciente 63, ranked number one on Brazil’s local Trending Podcasts chart the day after it premiered and stayed there for over two weeks. It also reached the top spot on Brazil’s Fiction charts and stayed there for over a month.

Creator Rojas has long credited the show’s appeal to its format. He says the audio-only medium calls back to the way stories have been handed down for centuries, inviting listeners to fill in the blanks with their imaginations.

“The LATAM team on the ground, led by [Spotify’s] Javier Piñol, created a universal story that transported listeners into their own imaginations alongside the lead characters. The adaptations in both Brazil and India, and soon the U.S., utilized local teams and talent to reimagine the story for new audiences,” said Courtney Holt, Global Head of Podcasts and New Initiatives at Spotify. “The success we’ve seen in all the market adaptations thus far has reinforced Spotify’s mission to provide creators with the opportunity to develop stories and expose audiences worldwide to the best storytelling narratives, regardless of origin.”

Ready to tap into your imagination and start your session with Dr. Aldunate? Catch season one below. And stay tuned for the English-language adaptation of the global podcast phenomenon, coming soon.

Artist Mano Brown Squares Up With Brazil’s Biggest Personalities on Spotify Original Podcast “Mano a Mano”

August 24, 2021

This month, some of Brazil’s biggest names and most controversial figures are going “mano a mano” with artist Mano Brown on the new Spotify Original podcast Mano a Mano. Mano Brown, aka Pedro Paulo Soares Pereira, is known across Brazil for his role as rapper, composer, and founding member of Racionais MC’s, a rap and hip-hop group that burst onto the scene in the late 1980s. His music is known for highlighting daily life in the outskirts of São Paulo, where he grew up.

He’s also famously a man of few words—until now. Starting August 26, listeners will see a new side of Mano as he interviews major figures from sports, politics, music, and religion in Brazil. Guests on the show will share their never-before-heard stories in weekly thought-provoking conversations. Interviewees this season include artist Karol Conká, who kicks off the first episode, as well as doctor and educator Drauzio Varella, actor Pastor Henrique Vieira, football manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo, and groundbreaking politician Fernando Holiday. 

“The idea of ​​the podcast is to bring up different ideas and thoughts through conversations with diverse, controversial guests who you’ll love or hate, it’s up to you,” Mano shared. “Mano a Mano is a continuation of what happens in my daily life. I’m not just surrounded by like-minded people; we talk and debate. In the podcast, I don’t want to create a confrontation of ideas, but open a possibility of dialogue.”

He also explained that the show is meant to reach, entertain, and inform Afro-Brazilian listeners, who are not always the primary audience for mainstream media in particular. Like his music, the podcast is meant to broaden the cultural conversation. He credits help from his production team of fellow Black Brazilians, including journalist Semayat Oliveira, for overcoming the challenges of the interview format and incorporating diverse perspectives.

“I’m having to learn communication, journalism,” Mano reflected. “It sounds simple when you’re watching television, but conducting interviews is delicate, as is tying things together and keeping the conversation relevant without losing the spice. If anyone is learning from this experience, it’s me. But I’m well advised by a Black team.”

Ready to debate, learn, and listen with Mano? Mark your calendar for the show’s debut on August 26, with new weekly episodes continuing to drop each Thursday. Until then, check out the Mano a Mano trailer:

Mano Brown se junta com as maiores personalidades do Brasil no Podcast Original Spotify “Mano a Mano”

August 24, 2021

Este mês, algumas das figuras mais controversas do Brasil vão em um encontro “mano a mano” com o rapper Mano Brown no novo podcast Original Spotify Mano a Mano. Mano Brown, nome artístico de Pedro Paulo Soares Pereira, é conhecido no Brasil pelo seu trabalho como rapper e compositor e por ser um dos criadores do Racionais MC’s, um grupo de rap e hip-hop que começou no fim dos anos 80. Sua música é conhecida por dar visibilidade ao cotidiano das periferias de São Paulo, onde ele cresceu.  

O rapper também é conhecido por ser um homem de poucas palavras – até agora. No dia 26 de agosto, os ouvintes vão poder conhecer um novo lado de Mano, enquanto ele entrevista grandes figuras brasileiras do esporte, política, música e religião. Os convidados do programa vão compartilhar histórias nunca antes ouvidas em instigantes conversas semanais. Alguns dos entrevistados dessa temporada são a rapper e cantora Karol Conká, que é a convidada do primeiro episódio, o médico e educador Drauzio Varella, o ator Pastor Henrique Vieira, o técnico de futebol Vanderlei Luxemburgo e o político controverso Fernando Holiday.

“A ideia do podcast é trazer diferentes ideias e pensamentos por meio de conversas com convidados diversos, controversos, amados, odiados… Vocês decidem”, compartilhou Mano. “Mano a Mano é a continuação do que acontece no meu dia a dia. Eu não estou rodeado apenas por pessoas que pensam igual a mim; nós conversamos e discutimos. No podcast, eu não quero criar um confronto de ideias, mas abrir a possibilidade para diálogo.” 

Ele também comentou que o programa tem como objetivo alcançar, entreter e informar a audiência afro-brasileira, que nem sempre é o público-alvo para a mídia mainstream, principalmente. Assim como a música de Mano Brown, o podcast visa ampliar o diálogo cultural. Ele dá crédito disso à ajuda do time de produção, composto também por brasileiros negros, incluindo a jornalista Semayat Oliveira, por superar os desafios de trazer um programa no formato de entrevistas e incorporar perspectivas diversas.

“Estou tendo que aprender mais sobre comunicação e jornalismo”, reflete Mano. “Parece fácil quando você está vendo pela televisão, mas conduzir entrevistas é delicado, assim como é amarrar as coisas e manter o diálogo, sem que fique desinteressante. Se tem alguém que está aprendendo com essa experiência, essa pessoa sou eu. Mas eu também estou sendo bem aconselhado por um time composto de pessoas negras.”

Pronto para debater, aprender e escutar com Mano? Marque na agenda o lançamento do podcast, no dia 26 de agosto, com episódios semanais todas às quintas. Até lá, vem ouvir o trailer de Mano a Mano: 

Spotify’s Music + Talk Show Format is Expanding Across the Globe

August 18, 2021

Music + Talk gif

Last October, Spotify launched a pioneering listening experience called Music + Talk that brings together music and spoken-word content. The unique format weaves full songs and talk commentary together​ into one show.

Through Anchor, Spotify has also made Music + Talk an accessible format that anyone can use to create these unique shows. Anchor’s suite of tools is already available to users in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Starting today, we’re expanding the experience to millions more creators and listeners around the world and sharing the tool with 15 new markets across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. 

Here’s everything you need to know.

Where in the world is Music + Talk?

With this expansion, Japan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Colombia will have access to the blended audio experience.

Creators in these markets will now have access to the “Music” tool in Anchor, where they can incorporate full songs from Spotify’s library of 70 million tracks into their spoken-word audio creations. And in return, listeners can interact directly with the music within an episode by liking, saving, and sharing with each track as they would in any playlist. 

The shows will be available to Premium and Free listeners. Spotify Premium users will hear full tracks as part of these shows, while Free users will hear 30-second previews of each song. Shows can be listened to globally wherever Spotify is available.

Our catalog of Music + Talk Spotify Originals will also get a boost across a number of markets as new shows from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, India, Japan, and the Philippines join our library today. Plus, there’s more to come from all the markets included in our latest launch. These shows will explore the many facets of music, from the stories and inspiration behind a song to the listening trends of the modern age, and they will offer an opportunity for artists to engage listeners in a unique way.

More ways to get inspired

Along with the market expansion, Spotify will begin offering a variety of new educational and inspirational resources for creators interested in using Music + Talk.

Today also marks the launch of an exciting new Spotify Original called Music + Talk: Unlocked, which will explore creative uses of the Music + Talk format—from guided runs to music trivia and more. Listeners and creators can find more best-in-class shows in the Music + Talk hub in the Spotify app.

Since we rolled out Music + Talk last year, we’ve learned from the needs and behaviors of listeners, as we always do with new products. Savvy streamers will notice that we’ve implemented small tweaks to improve the listening experience and reflect those needs: clearer visual distinction between the music and talk segments of an episode and music previews on episode pages.

We can’t wait to see new creativity and stories from around the globe as more markets make the audio storytelling features their own. Check out Anchor’s blog post and creator landing page for more information on how to get started with Music + Talk.

Podcast popular de ficção científica chileno é adaptado para ouvintes brasileiros em ‘Paciente 63’

July 22, 2021

Desde sua estreia em Novembro do ano passado, o popular podcast chileno Spotify Original Caso 63 tem paralisado os ouvintes com sua narrativa de ficção científica. Agora, a áudiossérie de viagem no tempo está se espalhando geograficamente à medida que o Spotify adapta seu podcast em espanhol para Paciente 63, uma versão em português, para ouvintes no Brasil.

Criado por Julio Rojas, a áudiossérie de ficção se passa no ano de 2022, quando a psiquiatra Elisa Aldunate inicia uma série de sessões de terapia com “Paciente 63”. Conforme as sessões progridem, o tempo, o espaço e a realidade começam a se confundir, brincando com a mente dos ouvintes. O drama se desenvolve ao longo de 10 episódios, entregando um mistério instigante para falantes de espanhol em todo o mundo.

“Tem sido um fenômeno impressionante – Caso 63 foi uma das áudiosséries em espanhol mais escutadas em 2020 e foi recebido com um entusiasmo que cruzou países, durou meses e gerou uma grande quantidade de reflexão e comentários em todas as redes sociais”, refletiu Rojas.

“[Com a adaptação] fico muito emocionado”, acrescentou. “Escutar Paciente 63 em português, com o nível dos atores, a adaptação e a produção, foi como se a história sempre tivesse sido pensada para ser ouvida nessa língua. É reconfortante ver que as histórias de ficção científica e seu público não têm fronteiras, talvez porque as histórias nos façam refletir sobre as mesmas questões. A ficção científica é hoje a grande fonte de reflexão filosófica sobre quem ou onde queremos estar.”

A adaptação conta com a participação dos atores brasileiros Mel Lisboa e Seu Jorge. Ambos emprestam suas vozes para a áudiossérie, contribuindo para a imersão dos ouvintes no universo de Paciente 63.

“Fiquei muito entusiasmada em fazer parte de Paciente 63,” afirmou Lisboa. “A série traz, em muitos momentos, a teoria de que podem haver realidades diferentes a partir das escolhas que fazemos; faz as pessoas refletirem sobre seus erros e suas decisões. Além disso, acho que uma ideia que as pessoas podem ter ao escutar Paciente 63 é que provavelmente passaremos por mudanças drásticas. Em 2019, por exemplo, não imaginávamos que precisaríamos nos isolar como está acontecendo até agora.”

O processo de gravação foi uma experiência inédita para os atores, que não puderam se encontrar pessoalmente durante a pandemia e, em vez disso, desenvolveram seus personagens e relacionamentos virtualmente. 

“Foi um desafio dar vida a um personagem por meio da voz”, Jorge compartilhou. “A necessidade de usar apenas esse recurso como meio de imersão para o ouvinte, principalmente com as limitações do COVID-19 que estavam acontecendo, dificultava o processo. Foi uma experiência que exigiu muita técnica. No final das contas, o projeto fez parte de um rico processo no qual tive que estudar a melhor maneira de lidar com minha voz e treinar muito para chegar onde queria.”

Lisboa e Jorge acreditam que a premissa instigante da história e o formato de áudio vão ressoar entre os brasileiros. Para Rojas, isso não é surpresa – e apenas o começo para podcasts de ficção.

“Por milhares de anos, a narração oral foi a principal forma de contar histórias”, explicou Rojas. “Ouvir uma áudiossérie ativa novas vias neurais e gera a intimidade necessária para a autorreflexão. Você faz parte da história porque ajuda a construí-la. É uma experiência única e pessoal, e acho que é o novo formato para um mundo pós-pandêmico. Espero que os ouvintes brasileiros gostem.”

Junte-se às aventuras de Paciente 63 e Dra. Elisa. Maratone já:

Popular Chilean Sci-Fi Podcast Gets Adapted for Brazilian Listeners in ‘Paciente 63’

July 22, 2021

Since its premiere last fall, the popular Chilean Spotify Original podcast Caso 63 has transfixed listeners with its science fiction storytelling. Now, the time traveling show is going the geographical distance as Spotify adapts its Spanish-language podcast into Paciente 63, a Portuguese language version, for listeners in Brazil.

Created by Julio Rojas, the fictional show is set in the year 2022, when psychiatrist Elisa Aldunate begins a series of therapy sessions with “Patient 63.” As the sessions progress, time, space, and reality begin to blur, playing with listeners’ minds. Drama builds over the course of 10 episodes, delivering thought-provoking mystery for Spanish speakers the world over.

“It has been a very impressive phenomenon—Caso 63 was one of the most-listened-to audio series in Spanish in 2020 and was met with an enthusiasm that crossed countries, lasted for months, and generated a great amount of reflection and comments on all social networks,” Rojas reflected.

“[With the adaptation I feel] a lot of emotion,” he added. “Listening to Paciente 63 in Portuguese, with the level of its actors, the adaptation, and the production, it was as if the story had always been designed to be heard in that language. It is comforting to see that science fiction stories and their audiences have no borders, perhaps because stories make us all reflect on the same issues. Science fiction is today the great source of philosophical reflection on whom or where we want to be.”

The adaptation features Brazilian actors Mel Lisboa and Seu Jorge. Both stars lend their voices to the series, helping to immerse listeners in the world of Paciente 63.

“I was very excited to join Paciente 63,” Lisboa shared. “The series brings up, in many moments, the theory that there may be different realities based on the choices we make, so it can make people reflect on their mistakes and their decisions. Also, I think one insight that people can get from listening to Paciente 63 is that we’re likely to go through drastic changes. In 2019, for example, we did not imagine that we would need to isolate ourselves as is happening until now.”

The recording process was a new experience for the actors, who were unable to meet during the pandemic and instead developed their characters and relationships remotely.

“It was a challenge to bring a character to life through his voice,” Jorge shared. “The need to use only this feature as a means of immersion for the listener, especially with the COVID-19 limitations that were happening, made the process more difficult. It was an experience that required a lot of technique. Ultimately, the project was part of a rich process in which I had to study the best way to deal with my voice and trained a lot to get where I wanted to go.”

Lisboa and Jorge believe the story’s thought-provoking premise and audio format will resonate with Brazilians. For Rojas, this is no surprise—and only the beginning for fiction podcasts.

“For thousands of years, oral storytelling has been the main way for transmitting stories,” explained Rojas. “Listening to an audio series activates you, ignites new neural highways, and generates the intimacy necessary for self-reflection. You are part of the story because you help make it. It is a unique and personal experience, and I think that is the new format for a post-pandemic world. I hope that Brazilian listeners enjoy it.”

Join the adventures of Paciente 63 and Dr. Elisa. Binge all 10 episodes today:

Spotify Original Podcast ‘Próxima Parada’ Brings Daily News From the Outskirts of Brazil

June 21, 2021

Journalists Ana Beatriz Felicio and Rômulo Cabrera are shining a light on the news, stories, and challenges unfolding in the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil, through their new Spotify Original podcast Próxima Parada. Launching June 28, the podcast will air Monday to Friday, exclusively on Spotify.

In brief 15-minute episodes, Próxima Parada presents stories, news, and reports on a wide range of topics, including education, employment, health, safety, housing, culture, and leisure. The daily journalistic series provides coverage on the diverse topics and daily news circulating in the outskirts of the São Paulo metropolitan area—referred to by locals as the “quebradas” or peripheries. 

The show focuses on the realities of areas far from Brazil’s economic centers and works to uplift marginalized voices. Podcasters Ana Beatriz and Rômulo, who themselves are from the outskirts of São Paulo, are driven by their experiences growing up in the area. Their goal is to explore three questions: What are the peripheries? Who are the people who live in these areas? And what happens over there?

“The outskirts of Brazil are diverse, plural places, full of good stories,” says cohost Ana Beatriz. “We want to expand the voice of those who live in these regions, practicing an even more attentive listening to what they have to say and share.”

The podcast is produced in partnership with Brazil’s Mural Journalism Agency of the Periferias, giving the hosts access to the agency’s correspondents network of more than 70 communication professionals who live in the peripheries.

“We are very happy with a partnership that believes in and amplifies journalism made by and for the peripheries; a journalism that, in the end, contributes to increasing the size of the São Paulo metropolis you thought you knew,” says Vagner de Alencar, Director of Journalism at the Agência Mural.

From left to right: Ana Beatriz Felicio, Vagner de Alencar, Gabriela Carvalho, and Rômulo Cabrera. Photo credit: Divulgação/Spotify

Episode topics include a chat with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who talk about the lack of shelters in Brazil’s Eastern Zone, and a conversation with residents in Cotia, in the outskirts of São Paulo, about their difficulties accessing safe reproductive care.

“It’s an opportunity for us to reinforce the leading role of the residents of the ‘quebradas,’ help to reduce prejudices about these neighborhoods, and deconstruct the stereotypes of violence, exclusion, and victimization associated with the peripheries,” adds cohost Rômulo.

With the release of Próxima Parada, Spotify reinforces its support for podcasters from underrepresented communities, just as it does with Sound Up, a global program that gives underrepresented podcasters the tools to boost their platforms and build their own shows. 

In addition, Spotify also created the exclusive Pretos no Topo hub to increase the visibility of the work and art of Black creators. There, listeners can access:

Próxima Parada premieres Monday, June 28, and new, free episodes will air Monday through Friday at 5 pm BRT (4 pm EST) exclusively on Spotify. Start listening to the trailer below.

Daily Drive Comes to Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil

April 14, 2021

Whether your routine is workout-music-coffee or shower-breakfast-news, we all have a “daily route” we take to start our day. Looking to use that time to stay up to date on the world around you or get pumped up for work with your favorite jams? Now, listeners in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil can find it all in one place with Spotify’s Daily Drive playlist.

This personalized mixed-media playlist combines the very best of news talk shows, including the relevancy and personality of the hosts, with the best of audio streaming (on demand, personalized playing and discovery). It combines music you love with relevant, timely world updates from reputable sources—all put together in a seamless and unified listening experience.

Get revved up for a personalized playlist that blends music and news in one place for the perfect commute experience. Included at launch:

Mexican, Argentinian, and Brazilian users can make the most of their time on the road by tuning into Daily Drive starting today.

Spotify’s Genreless creme Playlist Represents the Best of Brazil’s Urbano Sound

January 27, 2021

Since the launch of Pollen in 2018, Spotify’s genreless playlists have taken off around the world, with Oyster in the Nordics, Altar in the UK, and Mixto serving as the home for U.S. Latin music lovers. Each one is genreless and instead serves as a collection of boundary-pushing sounds grouped and inspired by listener communities.

In Brazil, our editors wanted to create a similar type of space—one in which the music could be cultivated into a genreless plurality with a specific sonic vibe that could merge rhythms from different types of music. They sought to do this with the diverse and far-reaching culture of urbano music in Brazil, which already stood to defy musical categorization and convention in the country. 

Enter creme. 

“For me, creme is a playlist that reflects the diversity of sounds that Brazil delivers in music, with a variety of beats, lyrics, and flow,” says Brazilian singer Donatto, who considers his music to be “pop with an MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) essence.” “creme is a playlist for gathering friends and enjoying a good vibe,” he says. 

Xamã, a rapper who in the past three months has been one of the top-streamed artists on creme, considers his work to be “part of the new MPB.” He describes MPB as “music from the streets, music that plays in bars, in buildings, that plays on the hill! A mixture of rap and funk, urbano music and street music.”

creme, which was originally known as “Beat Urbano,” has been rebranded as “The cream of Brazilian urbano mix.” Genre-wise, hip-hop and pop make up the majority of the tracks and artists represented. But digging deeper reveals the more specific categorizations across a range of sounds—Brazilian hip-hop, funk carioca, funk ostentacao, and Brazilian R&B and trap. 

These fit with the general sentiment of urbano music in Brazil, which is not tied to one genre, but spans funk, trap, R&B, hip-hop, and even Afrobeats. creme better represents a “coming together” of many music styles to evoke a feeling around a shared culture, rather than a genre. 

Similar to other genreless playlists globally, creme’s listeners tend to be Gen Zs. Meanwhile, the majority of listeners of other Brazilian flagship playlists are over the age of 25. And just as playlists like Pollen intersperse established artists alongside newcomers, creme has introduced Brazilian listeners to plenty of new sounds. Andressinha, and Nyna were among the most-discovered artists on the playlist between October 2020 and January 2021, enjoying space shared with the playlist’s top-streamed artists of the same time frame, Xamã, MC Cabelinho, Pedro Lotto, Pk, and Ludmilla. 

“When you listen to the creme playlist, you’re inserted into this new musical style,” says Xamã. “Everyone hears it. It’s a sound that lets everyone be represented, including me.”

creme is also reflective of new expressions of Brazilian urbano culture. Recently, a funk consciente track with sociopolitically themed lyrics, “Deus é por nós” by MC Marks, hit the Brazilian Top 50 chart. Around the same time, groups of Brazilian artists came together to record and release “Poesia Acústica,” a series of videos and singles mixing artists of different genres, like rap, R&B, and funk, with a relaxed, acoustic vibe. “Poesia Acústica #9: Melhor Forma” became a top 15 hit on the Spotify Brazilian charts for over 60 days after launch. 

Over the past 90 days, another Poesia, “Poesia Acústica 10: Recomeçar” by BK, Black, Delacruz, JayA Luuck, Ludmilla, MC Cabelinho, Orochi, Pineapple StormTv, Pk, and Salve Malak, found its place as the second-most-streamed song from the playlist. It’s preceded by “LARISSA” by Luan and PEDRO SAMPAIO and followed by “Oclin e Evoque” by Djonga, MC Rick, Sidoka, and Tropa do Bruxo. In the future, the top songs could come from any artist, with any sound.

“It is an honor to be featured on the creme playlist—I always listen to it,” says Donatto. “I know that it is a playlist that has many influential artists, and to be part of that playlist is an honor and a very big dream. Being in the midst of great artists that this playlist brings, I believe it can open new doors for me and show my work to people who still don’t know it.”

Feel the sound of Brazilian urbano music by streaming creme below.

Spotify Listeners in 11 Markets Can Now Ask Alexa to Play Podcasts—Here’s How

December 16, 2020

Last year, we announced that U.S. listeners could ask their Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts. Starting today, listeners in 11 new markets—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, India, Austria, and Ireland—can ask Alexa to do the same. 

Podcasts delight, entertain, inform, and inspire people across the world, and there’s always more to stream, for both Free and Premium listeners. Now with Alexa, you can get listening to any of the millions more on Spotify—just by using your voice.

Ready to get started? Setup is easy, and only takes a few moments:

  1. Go to the Amazon Alexa App.
  2. Open the menu, head to Settings, then Music & Podcasts.
  3. If Spotify is not connected, tap “Link New Service” and select Spotify.
  4. Link your Spotify account to your Alexa account.
  5. If you’re in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, or the UK, tap “Default Services,” and then select Spotify as the default podcast service.
  6. Say “Alexa, play [your podcast of choice] podcast on Spotify” and get listening!


Not sure what to start with? New podcasts from every market and in many languages are increasingly available on Spotify. Just check out a few that have come out in each of the markets where Alexa is available this year:

To learn more about playing podcasts on all your Alexa devices at home, head to the Amazon Alexa Explore Spotify page.

*Update February 4, 2021: Listeners in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update March 31, 2021: Listeners in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, Sweden, Poland, and the Netherlands can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update April 28, 2021: Listeners in Belgium and Switzerland can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update May 26, 2021: Listeners in Singapore, Denmark, and Norway can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update June 16, 2021: Listeners in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite podcasts.

*Update December 8, 2021: Listeners in Saudi Arabia and U.A.E can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite songs on Spotify. Users in U.A.E can also enjoy their favorite podcasts.

*Update May 25, 2022: Listeners in Ecuador, Hong Kong, South Africa, Taiwan, and Thailand can now ask Amazon Alexa devices to play their favorite music and podcasts.

Celebrating One Year of Spotify Lite

September 8, 2020

A year ago, we unveiled Spotify Lite, a small, fast, and simplified version of our app. It was built from the ground up based on user feedback from around the world, and has allowed millions of listeners in areas with limited bandwidth and phone storage to enjoy audio wherever they are. And as our users globally have found, though the app is lite, it’s just as loud.

In the 12 months since launch, listeners around the world have enjoyed and discovered thousands of new artists and podcasts—while easily controlling their data and storage. But where have fans been streaming from Spotify Lite the most, and what have they been streaming?

Since July 2019, we found that our listeners in Brazil have listened to the most music using Lite, out of all 37 markets with the app.* They’re followed by Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Argentina.

Even though some Lite users are on opposite sides of the world, they share some interesting listening patterns. For one, Mondays and Sundays are the top days for streaming, and lunch is the most common time to listen to music and podcasts.

Take a look at what they’re listening to:

Top Tracks

  1. “Señorita” – Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes
  2. “Dance Monkey” – Tones And I
  3. “Tusa” – KAROL G, Nicki Minaj
  4. “China” – Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, KAROL G, Ozuna
  5. “LA CANCIÓN” – Bad Bunny, J Balvin

Top Podcasts

  1. PODKESMAS (PODCAST KESEHATAN MASYARAKAT)
  2. Rintik Sedu
  3. Do You See What I See?
  4. NerdCast
  5. Kajian Hanan Attaki

Indonesia clearly had a great year for podcasts, with the market’s PODKESMAS, Rintik Sedu, and Do You See What I See all in the top five of the most streamed.

Plus, with a new year comes new growth—or rather, a reduction. Although the app was already small—only 10 MB when it came out of beta in 2019—we’ve been able to reduce the Lite app download size by an additional 15%.** This saves even more space on listeners’ phones while offering more than 60 million tracks and 1.5 million podcasts, regardless of network connectivity, data plan, and whether or not they have the latest phone.

The Spotify Lite app can be downloaded separately from the main Spotify app, and is available for both Free and Spotify Premium users. Use it alongside or independently from the main Spotify app on all Android phones running version 4.3 or higher.

*Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, India.

**App download size can vary depending on phone types.

Spotify’s ‘Sandra’ Podcast Goes Global—and Local—With ‘Sara,’ ‘Susi,’ ‘Sonia,’ and ‘Sofia’ Debuting in France, Germany, Mexico, and Brazil

July 6, 2020

In April 2018, Gimlet (now a Spotify company) launched Sandra, a seven-part fictional drama depicting a world where artificial intelligence isn’t so artificial. With big names (and voices) like Alia Shawkat (Helen), Kristin Wiig (Sandra), and Ethan Hawke (Dustin), the show launched to critical acclaim. And due to its relevant themes of technology, security, and self-actualization, Spotify deemed it a story worth telling listeners around the world. 

So on Tuesday, July 7, Spotify and Gimlet will premiere an exclusive localized version of the Sandra podcast in four markets: France, Germany, Brazil, and Mexico. The show has not only been translated into each local language—it’s also been specially adapted via a culturally relevant name (Sara in France, Susi in Germany, Sonia in Mexico, and Sofia in Brazil), a customized storyline, and more.

Other podcasts have been translated, but these Sandra adaptations will be the first truly localized adaptations ever made of a hit fictional podcast. The Spotify Studios teams in France, Germany, Brazil, and Mexico have worked with local directors to adapt the script, cast local talent, and reimagine the podcast with an appreciation for local culture, language, and nuance. In each market, the podcast has an A-list cast mixed with traditional TV and film actors as well as digital creators and influencers. 

Take a look at the names behind each market’s version and the unique spin the creators have taken to make it their own.

France — Sara

  • Starring Virginie Efira as Sara (Sandra), Natoo as Helen, and Stéphane De Groodt as Dustin
  • Biggest change for Sara: “The geographical localization of the story is a change which required a lot of thinking. We needed to find the French equivalent of Helen’s hometown, a small city with little perspective and excitement. But it also needed to fit the story’s actions in a realistic manner. Which French city is close enough to a prison so that you can go and come back in a day as Helen does when she visits her husband? This is how Guymon became Ruffec, in the French region of Charentes.” – Claire Hazan, Head of Studios, France & Benelux
  • Biggest challenge for Sara: “Keeping the original rhythm and dynamic of a scene is something that can be tricky when changing languages. The words can be longer or shorter, they can impact how a sentence feels, the duration of a whole scene and, in the end, the pace of the story. We chose to work with a production studio who developed a very specific creative response to that issue. They created a tool which synchronizes the soundwave of the original English-speaking audio and the words in French. It has greatly helped our actors to find the right tone and rhythm for their acting.” – Claire Hazan, Head of Studios, France & Benelux

Germany – Susi

  • Starring Martina Hill as Susi (Sandra), Almila Bagriacik as Sara (Helen), and Bastian Pastewka as Jens (Dustin)
  • Biggest change for Susi: “All the little details that will make it authentic to the German audience. For example, the big change is in where the story is set and things you can hear in the background—watch out for the TV program in one scene.” – Saruul Krause-Jentsch, Spotify Head of Studios Germany
  • Biggest challenge for Susi: “We ended up casting quite big names even for the smallest roles which, obviously, made scheduling and recording difficult from time to time. But after hearing the result, that was all worth it.” – Saruul Krause-Jentsch, Spotify Head of Studios Germany

Mexico – Sonia

Brazil – Sofia

  • Biggest change for Sonia and Sofia: “This is our first podcast project on a global scale on Spotify. Our expectations are high with Sonia in Mexico and Sofia in Brazil.” – Javier Piñol, Head of Spotify Studios in Latin America and U.S. LatinX audiences
  • Biggest challenge for Sonia and Sofia: “Our main challenge when it comes to adapting a global project is that it doesn’t always allow you to introduce some local tones and nuances, but when we decided that Sandra would go global, we agreed on one common goal: to adapt it to the local culture. And that’s exactly what we did by having a local production and casting these talents. The result couldn’t be better.” – Javier Piñol, Head of Spotify Studios in Latin America and U.S. LatinX audiences

The Sandra adaptation marks a podcasting milestone across the world. “Spotify is uniquely positioned to grow podcasting globally, but we know our customers also want authentic local programming,” says Courtney Holt, Global Head of Studios and Video, Spotify. “Adapting Sandra is a great example of that. By thinking and programming locally, and using our creative teams on the ground in each market, we’re able to develop a show that feels like a German, or French, or Mexican, or Brazilian podcast, rather than a translation. Sandra was also Gimlet’s first scripted podcast when it launched in 2018. The fact that podcasting, and specifically Sandra, has drawn such a group of A-List talent in each market is also a great endorsement of the medium growing at a global scale.”

Missed out on the original? Stream Sandra below.