Tag: EQUAL

2022 Saw Even More Advancements, Acquisitions, and Excitement at Spotify

December 27, 2022

Earlier this month, we all had a chance to revisit what we listened to most in 2022 with Wrapped. From the year’s top artist (congrats on the three-peat, Bad Bunny) to identifying our listening personalities (where the “Deep Divers” at?), fans worldwide shared their listening habits. But that’s only the icing on the cake. The year also saw new content offerings such as audiobooks and more programs to support diverse and underrepresented voices, all designed to bring the best experience to listeners and creators.

Ring in 2023 by reliving Spotify’s highlights from 2022.

Commitment to platform safety

At the start of the year, we shared several actions we’re taking to balance creator expression with safety, including publishing our Platform Rules and taking steps to ensure creators and users alike understand what’s permitted on Spotify. This summer, we unveiled the Spotify Safety Advisory Council, an interdisciplinary group of experts that are providing our teams with an outside-in view of the safety landscape and helping us ensure that our products and policies address the needs and concerns of our users, creators, and artists around the world.  

Acquisitions expand our offerings

Early in the year, we acquired two podcast technology companies: Podsights, a podcast advertising measurement service, and Chartable, a podcast analytics platform. This move helped us uplevel measurement for podcast advertising and give publishers a new way to grow their business through insights and promotions tools.  

Over the summer, we closed on the acquisition of Findaway, a global leader in digital audiobook distribution. Findaway works across the audiobook ecosystem with a platform and offerings that serve authors, publishers, and consumers. Their technology and know-how helped accelerate Spotify’s entry into audiobooks earlier this fall.

As the world’s leading audio streaming platform, it made perfect sense to bring Heardle, the beloved interactive music game to Spotify. It has provided a fun and innovative way to help fans discover new songs and artists.

We also acquired Kinzen, a global leader in protecting online communities from harmful content. Our partnership with the Dublin-based company, which began in 2020, has been critical to enhancing our approach to platform safety. The company’s technology and unique approach helps Spotify better understand, prepare for, and prevent abuse trends from emerging on our platform.

Frequency carves out a spot for Black creators

We expanded Frequency, our global initiative and holistic destination for celebrating Black art, entertainment, creativity, culture, and community both on- and off-platform, with even more opportunities for Black creators. In addition to on-platform hubs and playlists, we hosted The Free Studio, a four-day residency that brought together nine Black musicians and creators. Spotify’s popular playlist Ripple Effect continued the Frequency Sunday Dinner series in Houston, as well as cities across California. 

Helping diversify the voices of podcasting

Programs like Sound Up, the Creator Equity Fund, and RADAR for Podcasters help underrepresented voices and emerging talent in the audio space. From education and workshops to on-platform amplification, these initiatives give creators the tools they need to tell their story. In October, we introduced the Africa Podcast Fund, a first-of-its-kind initiative to support burgeoning podcasters through financial grants, workshops, and networking opportunities. In December, we launched Elevate for Podcasters in partnership with the Inevitable Foundation. The program empowers professional podcasters with disabilities, providing the funding, mentorship, equipment, and accommodations they need to level up their careers. 

Introducing User Choice Billing with Google

Our multi-year agreement with Google represents a first-of-its-kind option in payment choice with opportunities for both consumers and developers. Users who’ve downloaded Spotify from the Google Play Store are presented with the choice to pay with either Spotify’s payment system or Google Play Billing. These two options living side-by-side in the app give users the freedom to subscribe and make purchases, using the payment option of their choice. With this announcement and our partnership, Google is allowing more choice and competition—decisive steps that demonstrate how platforms should work.  

Blend it up

Blend combines the best of Spotify’s personalization capabilities and collaborative playlist functionality into a single shared playlist. In 2022, we took Blend to a whole new level. Users can now Blend with up to 10 people or they can Blend with artists like Lizzo, Post Malone, and Charli XCX. Fans also have the opportunity to shop artist merch from the Blend experience. Blend represents another way we can give artists a new oportunity to interact with fans, and to bring added personalization to a listener’s music experience.

Playing with video

In 2022 we expanded video podcasting to Anchor creators in over 180 global markets. Podcasters love having the option to accompany their audio with visual components, and fans get the opportunity to deeply connect with the content. We also introduced Spotify Podcast Subscriptions for video podcasts, an integration with Riverside (the go-to platform for remote recording), embeddable video, video bulk-replace, video-specific analytics, and interactive podcast features, such as polls and Q&A.

Celebrating EQUAL’s first anniversary 

Since its launch, EQUAL has spotlighted women artists through global partnerships, activations, new content experiences, and on- and off-platform support. April marked the program’s one year anniversary. Among EQUAL’s major accomplishments: listeners streamed more than 13 million hours of program artists in the first month of joining. 

Reimagining with Roblox

We entered the virtual universe Roblox to create Spotify Island, an audio paradise where fans and artists from all over the world can connect and explore exclusive sounds, quests, and merch. We enhanced the experience during the year with K-Park and Planet Hip-Hop.

Spotify and FC Barcelona team up on the field

In July, we kicked off a partnership with FC Barcelona, becoming the Main Partner of the Club as well as the Official Audio Streaming Partner. We joined the team in Miami during the club’s preseason tour and brought artists like Ovy on the Drums, Piso 21, and Mau y Ricky along for the fun. Through the in-stadium LEDs and our other marketing channels, we promoted artists of all sizes from around the world including BLACKPINK, Fireboy DML, Megan Thee Stallion, Aitch, Pomme, Feid, and Rigoberta Bandini. For FC Barcelona’s October El Clásico showdown—one of the most iconic events in all of sport—we celebrated Drake’s 50 billion streams by creating a limited-edition kit. Get more details on this multiyear partnership on our Spotify: For the Record podcast.

Upping the ante with audiobooks

This fall, we introduced audiobooks to listeners in the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. With more than 300,000 titles on the platform, we are giving book lovers a new way to enjoy storytelling on Spotify.

Time to play fair

We believe everyone benefits when competition is fair. Unfortunately, Apple does not, and they’ve consistently abused their dominant position to favor their own services, stifle innovation and hurt consumers. This year, we continued to urge policymakers to take significant action to protect competition and consumers from Apple’s anticompetitive behavior. For more on this fight, listen to  Spotify: For the Record, where entrepreneurs, U.S. senators, and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek discuss the importance of consumer choice.

Spotify’s Equalizer Sessions in Germany Help Women Build Lasting Connections

December 15, 2022

women sitting around a dinner table laughing at the spotify equalizer session. photo credit: swetlana holz
Photo Credit: Swetlana Holz

What do you get when you bring an impressive collection of women artists, podcasters, and influencers together for dinner? Magic—and an environment that inspires meaningful connections. 

Spotify has hosted Equalizer events in Europe to combat gender inequality in music for some time. The latest event, our Equalizer Sessions in Germany, was a three-part series in collaboration with the feminist-creation space and network eeden. These sessions took the form of dinners in Hamburg. Each one was hosted by different artists, alongside eeden cofounders Jessica Louis and Nürsen Kaya, with the aim of sparking conversations among women in the audio industry. 

The first event was hosted by artists Shari Hosseini and Maryam.fyi, the second by artists Lia Sahin and Jamie Watson, and the third by artist Antje Schomaker and writer Anastasia Umrik. The events were filled with musical performances and discussions of topics like mental health, equality, diversity, and Spotify’s EQUAL program.

These intimate dinners allowed women to connect, share personal experiences, and get to know others in both a personal and professional manner. For the Record chatted with Conny Zhang, Head of Music for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, about the sessions and how they’re helping support diversity in the audio industry.

What was the goal of the Equalizer Sessions in Germany? 

We wanted to create open and safe spaces for women from various pockets of the media and entertainment industry to connect and share an evening of conversations. While the sessions were meant to be open and without a frame of specific topics, each session was hosted by one to two women who set a tone or a topic of conversation based on their experience working in the industry. Ultimately, the aim was to bring together women to create a long-lasting network. 

What was your favorite moment during the event you attended? 

My favorite part was the immediate connection that I felt with all attendees, spurred by the conversation starters provided by the hosts. It was lovely to see female creators and industry professionals connect on various topics regarding professional and personal issues. 

Why is it important to have creation spaces that are specifically and explicitly feminist? 

Until there is more equality within the industry in regard to network, resourcing, education, and more, it is still important to provide spaces that are targeted specifically for female audiences. Those spaces provide a setting to share experiences with people who have had similar journeys or might have already progressed through. Ideally, the work does not end there as it’s equally important to connect women with decision makers—regardless of gender—to further close the gap. 

As the Head of Music in Germany, you pay close attention to gender equity in music in particular. Where do you see the biggest gaps currently?

On a global scale, only one in five artists is female, and streaming reflects the reality of the industry. We cannot change these structures in single parts, but we have to all work together to do our best to close gaps in education, network, and access to resources. 

What advice do you have for up-and-coming women audio creators?

Given that there are many structural and systemic barriers, it feels almost incomplete to only give advice for women creators as there are many systemic issues that need to be addressed. I would still like to encourage them to keep going and to not give up. Building up a network of supporters and sponsors is vital in anyone’s career. 

Check out photos from the three events below.

These Are the Most-Listened-to Songs by Women in Argentina This Year

December 9, 2022

a collage image of different female artists from argentina on different color backgrounds

The voices of women are getting louder in Argentina, where the presence of women artists in the country’s Top 50 has grown by 500% over five years. Demand in listenership is similarly up, with music performed by women making up over 20% of music consumption in Argentina—an increase of more than 12% since 2017. This huge development is an encouraging sign of the work Argentinian women artists have put in for fair recognition in their local music scene, and it marks positive change in an industry where many women face challenges to be heard and taken seriously as artists. 

One way Spotify is supporting this continued positive growth is through our EQUAL program, which shines a spotlight on women artists through global partnerships, activations, playlists, and more—all to foster equity for women around the world and celebrate their massive musical contributions. 

In 2022, a wave of talented Argentinian women have continued to raise the volume, with the likes of María Becerra, TINI, Nicki Nicole, and Emilia finding themselves on the list of Argentina’s 10 most-streamed Spotify tracks by women artists:

    1. Sofía Reyes and María Becerra – “Marte”
    2. TINI – “La Triple T”
    3. Nicki Nicole and Los Ángeles Azules – “Otra Noche”
    4. ROSALÍA – “DESPECHÁ”
    5. TINI and L-Gante – “Bar”
    6. María Becerra – “OJALÁ”
    7. Shakira – “Te Felicito”
    8. Emilia – “cuatro veinte”
    9. KAROL G – “PROVENZA”
    10. TINI  – “Miénteme”

“At Spotify we understand the challenges women face in music, and we know that the more opportunities we give them, the more people listen to them,” Mariana Sarramea, Senior Editor for Southern Cone, told For the Record. “We are actively committed to generating cultural impact by narrowing the inequality gap that still persists. Our work is focused not only on projecting established artists outside our borders alongside local and regional teams, but also on creating opportunities for emerging artists and new talents.”

While there’s always more work to be done to ensure that equity within music is fully realized, Spotify will continue to highlight and amplify women’s voices in Argentina and in the rest of the world.

Discover more of Argentina’s best women artists in the EQUAL Argentina

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

September 26, 2022

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

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

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

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

Why are you launching Spotify Talks?

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

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

What should we expect from Spotify Talks?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is just the beginning. 

 

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

EQUAL Takes the Mic at Germany’s Reeperbahn Festival

September 23, 2022

Five women posing in front of a camera at the music festival

Taking place over four days and serving as a forum for international talent to discuss current developments in the global music industry, Reeperbahn is the biggest club festival in Europe. Since 2006, artists, fans, and industry players from around the world have gathered in Hamburg for the event.

For this year’s Reeperbahn Festival, Spotify celebrated its EQUAL Global Music Program. EQUAL aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world.

At the festival, Spotify hosted a series of concerts to showcase the talents of German EQUAL artist LEEPA (who is also the EQUAL artist of the month for September), Sofia Portanet, and Ebow. “It was exciting to have three great artists perform at the internationally renowned event,” shared Conny Zhang, Spotify’s Head of Music for the German region. “At the same time, this showcase demonstrates, once more, the importance we place on promoting diversity in the audio industry at Spotify.“ 

Ahead of their performances, we caught up with two of the artists, LEEPA and Sofia, to learn more about their careers and experiences.

LEEPA

What has your experience in the Spotify EQUAL program been like up to now? 

LEEPA: It’s been great, but a bit surreal. It’s also been a lot of work, so I think I’m in super tunnel mode and will have to wait for the most intense part to be over to really realize it happened.

How does it feel to be part of the Reeperbahn showcase?

LEEPA: My reaction is disbelief, a great deal of perfectionism kicking in, and gratefulness. Other people’s reactions have been great too. It’s interesting because I’ve also gotten a lot of international reactions that were super positive, which was both super interesting and nice.

What’s been the most pivotal moment of your music career so far?

LEEPA: I think this week has been super defining. Having two shows as big as Reeperbahn Festival and Lollapalooza in combination with the EQUAL campaign in one week is the ultimate test, and I think this whole year has led up to this point. And successfully getting through it will be very defining for my career, and also essential to my confidence as an artist.

What’s next for you? 

LEEPA: A little break and lots of music making. 

How would you like to see greater gender representation in the music industry?

LEEPA: More female technicians and more female producers!

 

Sofia Portanet

How does it feel to be part of the EQUAL Reeperbahn showcase?

Sofia: I’m really excited about this showcase! I think it’s great and really important that Spotify is setting a sign for gender equality in the music industry. The fact that the EQUAL playlist and showcase have been brought to life is an indicator of a big issue in the music industry, and it’s good that this topic is getting more attention though this. Being a powerful streaming platform, it’s great Spotify is assuming their part of the responsibility in this matter by creating more visibility for female artists and helping to widen female artists’ audience. Having the opportunity to play live and be part of Spotify EQUAL myself is therefore extra exciting and makes me really proud! On top of this, I love playing at the Reeperbahn Festival. It’s a very dynamic and diverse festival, and I love to meet people and discover new artists here.

What’s been the most pivotal moment of your music career so far? 

Sofia: Winning the Best Newcomer Award at the VIA – VUT Indie Awards at Reeperbahn Festival last year (2021). In my opinion, recognition shouldn’t ever be the goal, but it does encourage and give a lot of strength to keep on working hard! It was a really joyful moment and I feel really, really grateful for it.

What’s next for you? 

Sofia: Quite a few things actually. I’m preparing my upcoming single release for the beginning of November. The song is called “UNSTOPPABLE” and it’s about empowering people to keep believing in themselves no matter what! There will be a music video for it, too. Also, I’m preparing for my upcoming tour that starts mid-November until the 8th of December. It’s the headline tour of my latest album Freier Geist, which we had to postpone three times already. But this time, it’s finally going to happen! I’d recommend getting your tickets now. And last but not least, I’m working on my new album. I can’t wait to tell you everything about it very soon!

How would you like to see greater gender representation in the music industry?

Sofia: Despite all efforts in the past years, the music industry continues to be a super male-dominated industry with big gender inequality. First of all, it would be really important for everyone to understand that women don’t want to have special treatment; we just want to be treated no differently than men. That means we need to have just as many opportunities to prove ourselves, to get experience, to be respected, and to be treated equally. And equal treatment means equal representation in any sector of the music industry! May it be as an artist, songwriter, producer, or executive. In the long run, for me, equal treatment will no longer mean having “women panels” or “female music festivals.” It will just mean that women will equally be represented in any festival, any panel, any company. And don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have “women only” events or organizations as it raises the attention on the issue, but it’s important that women don’t feel stigmatized with this topic either, but integrated into the system instead.

 

Want to hear more from these powerful women artists? Check out the Spotify EQUAL GSA playlist.

 

Country Crossover Icon Shania Twain Is Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

September 15, 2022

“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” “Any Man of Mine.” “You’re Still The One.” The list of hit singles from country legend Shania Twain goes on and on. And while the Canadian star grew up singing and performing in the ’80s, she really hit her stride in the ’90s when she released three albums that introduced her bold and unapologetic persona to the world.

Shania’s success is unparalleled. She has won five Grammy Awards, sold over 100 million records, and accumulated over 1 billion streams across her Spotify catalog—making her not only the best-selling female artist in country music, but one of the best-selling artists of all time. 

Shania took her career to new heights in 1997 when she released Come On Over, a genre-spanning album that attracted a global fan base and proved she was a pop force to be reckoned with. But even after the release of her Greatest Hits album, Shania continues to push boundaries with her music. This year the singer released the track “Not Just A Girl” as well as a compilation album that is a companion to her new Netflix documentary, Not Just A Girl.

Shania’s boundary-breaking attitude makes her the perfect Ambassador of the Month for Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program. EQUAL aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. Fans can find Shania’s new song on this month’s EQUAL Global playlist. 

For the Record caught up with the superstar to learn more about what inspires her and how she’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry. 

The artists who have most inspired me are _____.

Especially as a kid, artists like Dolly Parton and Tanya Tucker. I thought I could maybe be the next Tanya Tucker, in fact. I really learned a lot of my songwriting from Dolly Parton. Olivia Newton-John was a big inspiration for me. Gladys Knight always being the biggest, most beautiful voice I thought I’d ever heard. When I got into my teens, I started to really draw most of my inspiration from rock singers. I was a big Heart fan. I was getting into the big hair and lots of hairspray. Annie Lennox was one of my absolute favorite singers for her range. I thought it was incredible. And she had such a strong, yet feminine face and such an eye for fashion and her own personal styling. So, I guess my influences evolved as I got older. I started to really get inspired by some of the new, more recent voices as I was especially regaining my own voice after a struggle with it. So I was really targeting the higher voices like Ariana Grande and Sia, with her punch and her power. So in more recent years, I’ve been focusing on the voices that have the most flex and agility, just from my own vocal training. 

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is _____.

Don’t be a follower. If you really plan on being a leader, then it’s probably not a good idea to get into the habit of following what other people are doing, what other artists are doing stylistically. Just be your own boss.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is _____.

Acceptance . . . more unity. Music is very uniting. We just need to be celebrating music, regardless of our gender. It’s the artist’s responsibility to put their best foot forward. So it’s not because of your gender that you should be accepted, it’s because of your greatness. But then we, as an audience and as streamers, have to give artists that door. Even if we have to kick the door down, the door still has to be there. So give us a chance to get out there to the fans and let the public decide.

A few up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are _____.

Mickey Guyton—I think you’re incredible. I love your personality and I think you’re going to be around for a really long time. I look forward to everything that you have coming up next. I’m also a big cheerleader for Tiera Kennedy because, Tiera, I believed in you right from the beginning. So just keep it going. Keep those great songs coming; keep songwriting. There’s so many fabulous women that are just in front of you. I mean, Brandi Carlile is one of the best female songwriters I think I’ve ever known. So keep looking to these other great songwriters in front of you, and I look forward to seeing more of you.

My girl-power anthem is _____.

Is this, like, a trick question or something? Cause I know I have at least a dozen or more . . . but I’m going to say right now, in my spirit, it’s “Roar” by Katy Perry.

Hear Shania’s new hit, as well as songs from other women artists, on our EQUAL Global playlist. 

Celebrate Medellín with Casa Spotify Medallo, an Open Studio Residency for Emerging Artists and Creators

September 7, 2022

Medellín, Colombia, has been one of the gravitational poles for Latin music and a pillar of the music industry in the region for over a century. This city is home to great Colombian popular music artists such as Lucho Bermúdez and the salsa orchestra Fruko y sus Tesos. Famously, the city also gave birth to the Colombian reggaeton explosion with stars like Maluma, J Balvin, Karol G y Sebastián Yatra, artists that have put Medellin on the map as a capital of urban Latin music.

Now, to celebrate the musical tradition of the city, Spotify is presenting Casa Spotify Medallo, a place for inspiration, collaboration and education, dedicated to urban artists, producers, composers and podcast creators. 

Casa Spotify Medallo will open in Medellín on October 11th to November 3rd, where it will be an artistic residency and recording studio open to emerging audio creators. Artists and creators will find a daily program that includes workshops, masterclasses, panels and showrooms with producers and influential personalities, designed to promote and enhance their creative abilities.

The doors to the house, located in a historic place in the heart of the city, will be open to the new paisa urban wave and local creators, to continue raising the talent of a city that has given so much to the global music industry. 

“We celebrate Colombia for its cultural and musical richness, recognized worldwide thanks to its artists, producers and composers,” says Mia Nygren, General Manager for Latin America. “We are here in Medellin to listen to emerging artists and audio creators with the goal of generating collaboration opportunities and empowering local talent to reach new audiences through our platform. We want to show emerging talent that Spotify is their best ally to get more listeners to discover their art.”

Located within a valley and surrounded by captivating mountains, Medellín is the birthplace of legendary labels such as Discos Fuentes, Codiscos and Sonolux, which shaped Latin music for decades, as well as the city that adopted Carlos Gardel’s tangos as its own. 

In the eighties, rock took over withEkhymosis, which later gave life to Juanes‘ solo career, metal with bands like Kraken, punk with I.R.A, and more recently Hip-hop with legendary bands like AlcolirykoZ. 

Later, the city’s reggaeton boom opened the doors to the new wave of local heroes represented by Feid, Ryan Castro and talents that have been part of Spotify’s RADAR Andinos like Ovy on The Drums and Blessd, and other artists like Farina, our program ambassador of EQUAL Colombia. 

With Casa Spotify Medallo, we seek to recognize the original sounds and stories of the new paisa creators who have shown that their sounds break barriers  while also expressing our commitment to a new generation of creative talent. That’s why creators interested in being part of Casa Spotify Medallo can register on this link and submit one of their favorite compositions hosted on the platform. The link will be open from September 7 to september 13 .

We want you to enjoy Casa Spotify Medallo with us.

Learn more about the programming of all the educational sessions at Casa Spotify Medallo here, where you can sign up for the events that interest you.

Discover the urban sounds of Medellín in our Fino playlist. 

EQUAL Ambassador of the Month Simi Uses Her Music To Send Powerful Messages

July 7, 2022

Singer-songwriter, sound engineer, and actress are just a few of the hats Simi Bolatito Ogunleye wears. Mother and advocate round out that list, with Simi’s career being punctuated by songs that reflect her life experiences. Whether it’s looking back on the birth of her daughter on “Duduke” or challenging gender stereotypes on “Woman,” Simi’s music gives listeners a window into her world. 

The Nigerian-born multihyphenate started singing in church choirs as a child and wrote her first song at 10 years old. After years of making gospel music, in 2014 Simi switched to Afro-pop, where she made waves with her song “TIFF.” In 2015, she followed that up with “Jamb Question,” which became a chart-topping hit and secured her position as an industry mainstay. 

Simi’s extensive catalog and passion for women advocacy make her selection as the ambassador for Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program a no-brainer. EQUAL aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. As part of Simi’s involvement, her song “Naked Wire” will be featured on this month’s EQUAL Global playlist. 

For the Record caught up with Simi to learn about her musical inspirations and the advice she has for her fellow women musicians. 

The artists who have most inspired me are _____.

Aṣa and Ms. Lauryn Hill. I would say Aṣa most especially because when I started singing professionally, I felt like I could do anything when I listened to her. 

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is _____.

They’re gonna tell you all the things you think you can’t do. Don’t listen to them. 

One notable moment in my career so far is _____.

When I made a song for my daughter because I was able to perfectly blend my personal life and my career in one little beautiful bubble, and it was such an experience. 

My creative process _____.

Can vary. But my favorite thing is when I have an idea and I can’t go to sleep until I put it down.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is _____.

Inclusion of women and having opportunities to give women what they deserve, because there are so many of us. 

A few up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are _____.

Ladé, Ria Sean, and Liya, amongst a few others. 

My girl-power anthem is _____.

“Woman” by me. 

Hear more from Simi and other women artists sharing their voices with the world on our EQUAL Global playlist. 

 

Sara James Makes Spotify History as the Youngest EQUAL Global Ambassador of the Month

June 1, 2022

One year ago, 12-year-old Sara James won the Voice Kids Poland competition. She then went on to place second in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Somebody.” Now, at 13, she is Spotify’s youngest EQUAL Ambassador of the Month.

Sara—who is half Polish and half Nigerian—comes from a musical family and began playing piano at six. The vocal powerhouse has also won several other singing competitions in Poland, including the Christmas Carols and Songs Festival and the National Film Song Competition. Now, she’s ready to reach more fans with her music as the first Polish musician to be named EQUAL Global Ambassador of the Month.

“It’s really an honor for me to be the first Polish ambassador of Spotify EQUAL. I’m all about promoting female empowerment, equality, and mutual support for each other,” Sara told For the Record. “We have to deal with so much social pressure every day, and we should really use every opportunity to speak up and embrace our strength. Of course, I’m focusing on my young generation in particular, because I can relate to it the most, but this really affects women from all social and age groups, which makes initiatives like EQUAL so incredibly important!” 

Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. Sara’s song “My Wave” will be featured on the EQUAL Global playlist along with music from other women artists making it big globally.

For the Record sat down with Sara to learn more about her career aspirations and her hopes for the future of music. 

The artists who have most inspired me are ___.  

There are so many it’s really hard to pick! But I’d probably say Beyonce, Rihanna, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and most recently—Rosalía! I love women with strong personalities.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is ___.

Don’t ever let anyone bring you down! People will try to doubt your success, but this should never make you question yourself and your talent. Always be proud of who you are, because the energy you feel within is the energy that people see in you.

One notable moment in my career so far is ___.

I don’t think I can really pick one, because every single big moment has led me to another one. That’s what makes them all EQUAL! (You see what I did there?)

My creative process consists of ___.

At the beginning, I mainly just try to organize my thoughts and bring them together. I have so many ideas coming to me at once when I’m starting to create, so sometimes it’s really hard to choose the direction I want to go in. But once I’m on the right track, I’m unstoppable!

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is ___. 

Tolerance and mutual support—it’s as simple as that. I think we wouldn’t have to deal with as many issues if people were more respectful and supportive toward each other. So that’s definitely what I’d like to see more of—not only in the music industry, but in this world in general.

An up-and-coming woman artist I’m excited to watch is ___.

Zalia—she’s from Poland too! She’s such a wonderful, talented, beautiful lady. The fact that she puts everything that she has in her heart into her music is an inspiring thing to watch. What a queen. 

My girl-power anthem is ___.

“Run the World (Girls)” by Beyonce!

Discover more women artists climbing the charts with our EQUAL Global playlist.

Spotify France and shesaid.so Partner To Create Online Directory of Women, Trans, and Nonbinary Music Professionals

May 27, 2022

Spotify has been taking steps to increase the number of women and nonbinary individuals in the music industry for years. From our Equalizer project in the Nordics to our collaborative study with USC Annenberg in the U.S. and our EQUAL program elevating talented women musicians around the world, there’s no shortage of initiatives aimed at creating better gender equity in the industry. But it’s not enough, and much more still must be done. 

Yesterday, at the Nuits Sonores in Lyon, France, Spotify and shesaid.so announced Majeur.e.s., the first inclusive online directory of professional women, trans, and nonbinary individuals within the music industry in France. This directory aims to accelerate change in a music industry that is still deeply unequal.

“As the leading streaming platform, we have a responsibility and a role to play in order to build a more egalitarian music industry,” says Julie Beherec, Artist and Label Partnerships Manager at Spotify France. “Beyond the support we give to women artists through our EQUAL program, we deemed it necessary and in fact urgent to give more space to women and minorities within the music industry by making their profiles more visible when they’re so often overlooked. Which is why we’re extremely proud to support this initiative by helping create and develop the Majeur.e.s. Directory.” 

The site majeures.org functions as a database that will allow professionals within the music industry to find and hire experienced individuals. With this inclusive online directory of women, trans, and nonbinary music professionals in France, there’s a streamlined, clear way to find the technician any production needs. This complimentary tool comes a year after the launch of the EQUAL program in France and numerous other countries around the world, and as Spotify France tackles gender discrimination in collaboration with shesaid.so and other NGOs locally. 

“The music industry is in constant evolution, and it’s of the utmost importance that we accompany its actors with the adequate tools,” says Claire Morel, President of shesaid.so France. “It’s majeures.org’s role. Majeur.e.s. is truly an accelerator of equality.”

Check out majeures.org to find a directory of women, trans, and nonbinary music professionals. Then stream our EQUAL France playlist for a taste of the talent there. 

Turkish Artist Aleyna Tilki Makes a Splash as Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

May 17, 2022

Aleyna Tilki is breaking the mold as she makes a name for herself in the music industry. The edgy Turkish singer-songwriter started her singing career at 14 years old, and now, at the age of 22, she already has multiple hits and high-profile collaborations to her name. Add to that the fact that Aleyna is the first Turkish artist that Warner Music Group has signed for international projects, and it’s clear she’s a musical force to be reckoned with.

Aleyna’s signature vocals—whether she’s singing in her native Turkish or in English—and unique style help her fuse genres in her music. Early last year, she released the highly anticipated single, “Retrograde,” cocreated by an all-star team that included Diplo, Dua Lipa, and King Henry. In October of 2021, Aleyna continued to prove her success with the song “Real Love,” which was a collaboration with producer and DJ Dillon Francis. The track was a hit, debuting at number 24 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

singer aleyna stands in front of a pink backdrop looking directly into the camera.

Now Aleyna continues to gain a global following as the EQUAL Ambassador of the Month for May. Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. As a part of this month’s spotlight, Aleyna will have her song “Take It or Leave It” at the top of the EQUAL Global playlist, and the artist is featured on the playlist’s cover.

For the Record spoke with Aleyna to learn more about her creative process and some of the notable moments in her career.

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

Freddie Mercury, Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, and Michael Jackson.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is ____.

Your body is your area of freedom. Be free to explore it for your art. Being open about your body does not mean you are open to being abused by anyone.

One notable moment in my career so far is ____.

Being able to collaborate with great artists and big labels for my music, even though it’s really tough to break through globally from my country.

My creative process consists of ____.

Psychoanalysis. It helps me to go deeper into human psychology. But this is not about empathy, rather it’s about how it helps me to express myself in my art.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is ____.

By people accepting that everything is not about masculinity.

Some women artists I’m excited to watch are ____.

ROSALÍA, Doja Cat, GAYLE, Billie Eilish, and Jessie Ware.

My girl-power anthem right now is ____.

Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” (of course).

 

Listen to music from Aleyna, as well as other strong women, on the EQUAL Global playlist.

 

ARIETE Shares Her Vision for the Music Industry as Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

April 19, 2022

In Italian, the word “ariete” means ram, which is the symbol for Aries, the first constellation in the zodiac. It is also Roman singer-songwriter Arianna Del Giaccio’s astrological sun sign and the inspiration behind her emblematic stage name. 

ARIETE first entered the music scene via her social media channels, using her strong voice to garner steady attention during long days at home early on in the pandemic. As her popularity grew, she released a certified-platinum single, “L’Ultima Notte,” and two EPs and was selected to be part of Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. Then, in February 2022, ARIETE released her first full-length album, SPECCHIO. The record’s dreamy sounds and hammering drumbeats reflect both the quiet calm of a young woman producing music in her bedroom and the bubbling stardom of an artist ready to break through. 

This month, ARIETE is the face of Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program, which aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. As part of ARIETE’s involvement, her song “CICATRICI,” featuring Madame, can be found on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist along with music from other women artists making it big globally.

For the Record spoke with ARIETE to learn more about her thoughts on fostering equality in the music industry and the motto that moves her forward. 

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

Definitely Clairo, PinkPantheress, and all the artists of the new generation who are trying to keep pushing the boundaries of contemporary music.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is ____.

Never consider yourself “different” or on a lower level from your male colleagues. Art is art in every form of its deep creation.

One notable moment in my career so far is ____.

The first live shows I played last summer, which sold out. I had begun to release my music during the pandemic, and to be able to see the people [who came to the shows] from the stage and to share their emotions was a unique feeling that I’ll never forget.

My creative process consists of ____.

I don’t have a proper creative process. I take my inspirations from the simple things that color my everyday life and the people I love. Everything can be a source of inspiration for me and my music; I just sit down at the piano or pick up my guitar and everything goes by.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is ____.

I think the gender gap is definitely an issue in modern music and society. I found it deeply concerning that in the 21st century, we’re still speaking about inequality between genders or genders themselves. We have to normalize this concept with all the cultural weapons we have, but I’m sure that eventually the next generations will treat this issue not as an issue but as the normal topic it should be.

One up-and-coming woman artist I’m excited to watch is ____.

PinkPantheress got me hyped, so I’m looking forward to seeing her as soon as possible!

My girl-power motto right now is ____.

Just kick a**. You’re great as you are, no matter what they say.

Ready to sing along to the world’s most powerful up-and-coming voices? Stream Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist now.