Tag: EQUAL

Logic1000, EQUAL Artist of the Month, Tells Her Story Through Dance Music

December 21, 2021

Logic1000, aka Berlin-based producer Samantha Poulter, may have taken a winding path to the music industry, but she’s blazed a trail for fellow female artists nonetheless. The Australia native’s tracks have quickly climbed the charts, attracted a global listenership, and resonated with top DJs. Her impact on the industry and advocacy for other women artists have also earned her the title of Spotify’s EQUAL Artist of the Month.

Logic1000 began making waves in 2019, when her self-described “feminine and fun” tunes attracted the interest of influential DJ Four Tet, who quickly began to champion the artist’s tracks. The rest is history. Today, the creator’s rhythmic beats draw a monthly listenership of more than 500,000, and she’s celebrating the recent release of her EP In The Sweetness Of You. Her body of work is inspired by her experiences. The artist shared, “My ears have always been drawn to a particular sound throughout my life, and I think the music I make as Logic1000 is an amalgam of all of that. I want many people to hear my music because it is a true reflection of my taste, and I guess in that sense it is a way of ‘telling my story.’”

The latest chapter in her story includes joining Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program. The program, which recently passed its six-month milestone, takes aim at the gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. The ongoing EQUAL campaign extends resources and generates more opportunities for these artists by creating a global, cohesive, branded experience. Logic1000 will also take her place on the cover of our EQUAL Global playlist, giving her more visibility worldwide.

To get to know this creator, For the Record invited Logic1000 to fill in the blanks on her hopes for equity in music, the emerging artists she’s watching, and her long-standing personal anthem.

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

[Fellow EQUAL artist] Jorja Smith, Summer Walker, Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliott, and Mazzy Star. 

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

Try your best to be resilient because the industry can be tough at times for women. Don’t give up if you experience misogyny. Use that as fuel to make bigger and better art. Be loud! Be strong, and be humble with your success. 

One notable moment in my career so far ____.

When I released my first EP, Logic1000, a few years ago. At the time, music was a hobby, and I never in a million years thought it could be a career for me. It was such an amazing moment when Four Tet played a track off that EP to a huge crowd at Coachella. It really did open a lot of doors for me. This just proves the importance of bigger artists supporting those who are smaller and up-and-coming.

My creative process consists of ____.

Listening to the music that inspires me during my downtime. I find that doing this every day makes me motivated to be a great musician. It throws a lot of emotion into my body, and I use that as inspiration to make the music I want to make.

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

To see women and nonbinary people at the top tier of the music industry. I want them to be making the important decisions. I also want to see artists using their power to make sure lineups are diverse. Maybe this could mean artists have gender and racial diversity quotas that need to be fulfilled by festivals in order for them to accept the offer to play.

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

A few up-and-coming women artists I’m excited to watch are Erika de Casier, Molly Lewis, and yunè pinku.

My girl-power anthem right now is ____.

“Jumpin’, Jumpin’” by Destiny’s Child. It has been my anthem since I was 14, so it is a long-standing love.

Turn up the volume on Logic1000 and other women creators and stream Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below:

Looking Back at Spotify’s Greatest Hits in 2021

December 13, 2021

In an all-around unforgettable year, 2021 was an especially notable one for Spotify. We’re excited about what we’ve delivered for creators and listeners alike across new features, innovations, and collaborations. As the year comes to a close, we are taking a moment to look back on some of the advances we’ve made over the past 365 days. 

More listeners in more places

We have more listeners than ever. As we announced in our Q3 2021 earnings, as of September 2021, Spotify had increased the number of monthly active users and subscribers on the platform by 19% compared to 2020*. This year, we also doubled our global footprint by expanding into 92 new markets, bringing our total to 184 markets globally. New countries on our roster include South Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and many more across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America. This continued expansion means that the music and voices of more people, places, and cultures can be shared with listeners around the world.

Podcasting for all

At Spotify, we believe that podcasting provides a massive opportunity for creators to entertain, inspire, and inform people across the globe. According to Edison Research and our own internal data, we recently surpassed both Apple and YouTube in the U.S.—the largest podcast market globally—to become the number one podcast platform listeners say they use the most.

The appetite for podcasts has grown among listeners, and we are answering that demand with a catalog that includes 3.2 million titles*. That’s 68% more podcasts (as of September 2021) than were on the platform in 2020. Through November of this year, we launched over 400 new O&E podcasts globally, and throughout the year we signed numerous podcast deals and entered into podcast partnerships with some of the world’s biggest creators and beloved entertainment brands like Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert, The Joe Rogan Experience (the number one podcast in the world), and Bad Robot. But our passion for podcasts isn’t limited to the U.S. This year, we expanded podcasts into more than 80 markets, including Russia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Expanding the possibilities for advertising

When we reported earnings in October, we announced that ad revenue had increased 75% year over year. And in November, we surpassed 1 billion euro in annual ad revenue for the first time. New opportunities were created for advertisers with the launch of the Spotify Audience Network, our first-of-its-kind audio advertising marketplace that enables advertisers to connect with listeners enjoying a broad range of music and podcast content. Advertisers now have a way to reach and target audiences listening to Spotify Original & Exclusive podcasts, as well as third-party podcasts from enterprise publishers via Megaphone and Anchor creators. We’ve also introduced podcast ad buying to Spotify Ad Studio, our self-serve ad channel that makes it easy for advertisers of all sizes to reach podcast listeners.

Supporting both established and breakthrough artists

With over 380 million listeners on the platform, there’s a large audience for artists to share their new releases with. The increase in subscribers has led to many major artists, like Drake and Adele, across various genres breaking Spotify records throughout the year. 

Spotify has also continued efforts to support up-and-coming artists. We expanded our exclusive offerings with Spotify Singles (including Pride, BNA, Latinx Heritage Month, Are & Be, mint, and Holiday programs) and Spotify x Electric Lady live EPs. We’re supporting artists at all levels through programs like Fresh Finds (for independent artists), RADAR (for global emerging artists), EQUAL (which fosters equity for women in music globally) and Billions Club.

But those aren’t the only ways we are pushing the industry when it comes to artists. We also launched Loud & Clear to increase transparency by sharing new data on the global streaming economy. And we expanded our Charts feature to include artist, genre, and local charts. This allows artists and listeners to dive even deeper into the data.

Inspiring and enabling creation

In order to be the best audio network, we know we need to provide the best-in-class experience and content for our listeners. This means new features and new opportunities for creators to connect with their fans. We launched Spotify Greenroom, adding live audio as part of Spotify’s ecosystem and providing yet another opportunity for creators of all types to connect with their fans more deeply and meaningfully. In November we announced the acquisition of Findaway, the global leader in digital audiobook distribution, to accelerate our presence in the audiobook space. We also introduced Spotify Open Access, which allows listeners to hear third-party content on Spotify. Finally, we partnered with beloved brands like Peloton, Netflix, and Delta to bring exclusive experiences and curated playlists to our listeners.

EQUAL Artist of the Month STAYC Encourages Women Artists To Express Themselves

October 29, 2021

Spotify’s EQUAL Global Artist of Month, STAYC, chose their name very carefully. The six-person K-pop group’s moniker is actually an acronym for Star To A Young Culture, a phrase that reflects their goal of dominating pop culture. And so far, they’re well on their way!

With almost 2.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, the group is quickly gaining global attention with catchy fan-favorite songs like “STEREOTYPE” and “ASAP.” STAYC’s work has also earned the group accolades, including a nomination for Rookie of the Year at Korea’s 2021 Seoul Music Awards.

Together, STAYC band members Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J create an upbeat sound they describe as “teenfresh,” a term the group has coined to represent their unique blend of youthful, fresh tunes. They explain, “We want to deliver new messages while also delivering a sense of comfort and empathy to listeners, regardless of gender and age.”

The rising stars are the first group from Korea and the first K-pop artist to be on the cover of Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist. They’re also advocates for women artists, calling for continued diversity and opportunity within the industry. For the Record spoke with the EQUAL artist to fill in the blanks and learn more about their creative process and the women creators they admire.

Celebrating Six Months of Amplifying Women Creators Worldwide Through EQUAL

September 27, 2021

Six months ago, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Spotify vowed to turn up the volume on women creators through our EQUAL campaign. Currently, only one in five artists on the charts is a woman, according to the Spotify-funded USC Annenberg study on representation of women in the music industry. This knowledge has helped fuel our commitment to extending our resources and generating more impactful opportunities for women artists. Today marks a milestone of six months in our campaign—something to celebrate and acknowledge as we continue to drive equity for women in audio. 

“Being a female artist requires a lot more effort and dedication to get recognition since, unfortunately, social pressures and sexism are still so present in all spheres of society,” Brazilian artist DUDA BEAT, a featured EQUAL creator, told For the Record. “Hence the great importance of this Spotify initiative, which will enable us as women to have equal representation in the music scene. I’m sure EQUAL will be seen as a milestone in the history of the global music industry for bringing more recognition to talented women from all over the world and making their voices heard.” 

To amplify the voices of our creators, we debuted the EQUAL hub, a one-stop destination highlighting the work of women-identifying artists and podcasters. The centralized location isn’t just for artists, however. It also allows Spotify users to tap into the power of listening to shift the status quo.

And to further support emerging artists across 35 markets, we unveiled our EQUAL Music Program. Through the program, Spotify introduced to listeners around the world 35 EQUAL local playlists, which span 50+ countries, as well as a “best-of” flagship EQUAL Global playlist. The playlists are housed on platform in the EQUAL hub and spotlight local women artists on the rise in 35 markets. Plus, each month, the hub features a rotating Artist of the Month takeover, alongside a refreshed tracklist. We kicked off the program by highlighting 35 inaugural EQUAL creators, including LUNA, Somi, Meryl, and DUDA BEAT, and we have since featured 175 EQUAL Artists of the Month.

Now, we’re taking a look at the results of the EQUAL campaign so far—and renewing our commitment to amplify and celebrate the voices of women creators around the world.

 

It’s clear our EQUAL artists and local playlists have already struck a chord with listeners worldwide. In the first month of joining the program, fans added EQUAL artists to more than 600 different playlists 1,500 times. And after six months, EQUAL playlists have surpassed 29 million streams across 177 markets. 

Plus, since the campaign launched, For the Record has had the chance to speak with Artists of the Month Jorja Smith, Lido Pimienta, and more on their hopes for the future of the music industry. The program has ultimately helped foster a deeper connection between fans and noteworthy women artists and generate new opportunities for visibility.

“Sometimes people ask me about the best, most breakthrough moment of my career,” reflected LUNA. “I’m just at the beginning of my journey, but one event was really important and spectacular. In April 2021 I became a part of Spotify’s EQUAL campaign as the first Polish artist and ambassador supporting women’s rights in the music industry. And as a result, I’ve been featured on a billboard in Times Square! It was just unbelievable! It made me feel like anything is possible.”

We’re proud to support the voices of women creators worldwide, and we’re excited to raise the volume even higher. The work toward an equitable future has only just begun.  

Keep exercising your power to listen, and stream our EQUAL Global playlist now:

Lido Pimienta Brings Her Afro Colombian Roots to Electronic Pop as EQUAL Artist of the Month

July 26, 2021

You may remember Lido Pimienta from our Spotify Singles: Pride playlist back in June. Now, the Grammy-nominated musician, a self-proclaimed “traditional-transgressive punk folklorist,” is back again as Spotify’s EQUAL Global Artist of the Month. 

As a child, Lido immigrated to Canada with her family, where she now lives. She sings in both Spanish and English as she incorporates Afro Colombian sounds and rhythms into her experimental electronic pop. Her music—a mix of velvety smooth cumbia and bullerengue influences and uptempo synthpop—reflects her multifaceted background. 

In 2017, Lido’s unique sound earned her Canada’s top juried music award, the Polaris Music Prize, for her experimental album La Papessa. Fast-forward to 2021 and Lido is part of Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program, which aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry. Her song “Nada,” from the album Miss Colombia, is featured on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist, and as Global Artist of the Month, Lido takes her throne on the cover of the playlist. The program works to amplify the work of women creators around the world through an extension of resources and opportunities. 

For the Record asked Lido to fill in the blanks and give us insight into her inspirations, creative process, and visions for the future of music. 

The artists who have most inspired me are _____. 

Ms. Lauryn Hill, Nelly Furtado, Etelvina Maldonado, Alanis Morissette, Björk, Li Saumet, Aterciopelados, and Petrona Martinez. 

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

Document everything you create at all times and learn the basics of whatever it is that you love to do. If singing is your thing, learn about the best mics and the gear that will make you sound great, and learn the basics of recording yourself so that you can create your own demos. Always have the blueprint of your creations because, as women in this business, people will dismiss our voices and assume someone else must have made what you created. The best advice of all: Stay away from social climbers! 

One notable moment in my career so far is _____.

Winning the Polaris Music Prize with an album that was entirely in Spanish, without a label and without any kind of representation or PR. It validated my potential and it helped me believe in myself.

My creative process consists of _____.

Cleaning the house, playing with my kids, and walking to the studio while blasting music in my headphones. When I turn on my setup, I do so with gratitude. I also pull up my schedule so that I start working with a very clear agenda of what needs to be finished. I get the administrative and non-creative work out of the way, and then I get to work! Sometimes, if I am tired and don’t feel fully motivated, I will watch a video of a live concert of an artist I like. Or I will watch stuff from artists just so I can see how they perform and what their tech setup is onstage—that usually gets me really inspired. 

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

If all music festivals, venues, and any other platform with curation or programming power were obligated to book women at a minimum 50/50 rate, it would level the playing field just a tiny bit. Radio and media should have the same rule.

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

Barbie Perreo, Mabiland and the Red De Tamboreras de Colombia, Las Áñez, La Bruja de Texcoco, Sydanie, Lali De La Hoz, Pelada, LeeLee Yotp, Marie-Gold, Backxwash, Summer Hunting, and Laurence-Anne. 

My girl-power anthem is _____.

“Charlotte” by Kittie. 

Listen to Lido and her fellow women artists on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below:

Poland’s EQUAL Artist of the Month Hania Rani Composes Music That Lights Up the Soul

July 20, 2021

She’s a neoclassical pianist, musician, singer, composer, and award-winning artist, but Hania Rani’s resume only tells one side of her story. To get the full picture, you have to listen to her music, which features scores of wistful piano touched by sparse vocals and subtle synths. 

Hania grew up in Gdańsk, Poland, and later split her time between Warsaw and Berlin, where she studied piano and gained exposure to jazz and electronic music. Her career includes credits on full-length feature films, performances at iconic European venues, and accolades from across the Polish music industry, including multiple Fryderyk nominations, the country’s equivalent to a Grammy or BRIT award. 

Hania’s reign continues as Poland’s EQUAL artist of the month. Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying the work of women creators globally through an extension of resources and opportunities and by creating a global, cohesive, branded experience. As an EQUAL artist of the month, Hania will also be featured on the program’s bespoke playlist.

For the Record asked Hania to fill in the blanks and share her inspirations, creative process, and hopes for the future of music. 

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

At the end of the day, I have to say that many of the artists who have had a really deep impact on my music are women. I really need to mention names like Agnes Obel, Juana Molina, Martha Argerich, Maria João Pires, and Mica Levi. Watching their creative process is always a huge lesson for me. Apart from these, I also need to mention Nils Frahm, who will always have a very special place in my heart.

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

Learn, research, create, and go for things that make the blood in your veins flow a bit faster. Be curious, look deeper, and don’t be satisfied with shallow solutions. Don’t worry about whether something is reserved for women or men. If it interests you deeply, go for it. 

One notable moment in my career so far ____.

Releasing my first solo album, Esja. Everything that has happened afterwards was just a result  of this decision.

My creative process consists of ____.

Improvisation, craft, and intuition. I consider these to be very important elements of music I would like to create, music that is a source of freedom and spontaneity but is also rooted in skills and technique. I search for things that can’t be explained, things that sound intuitive but actually are deeply processed and planned from the craft side. My songs seem effortless but are created as a result of knowledge, experience, and confidence. When composing, I spend a lot of time improvising, recording, and deciding on the motifs worth developing. 

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

Simply seeing girls and women working in the music business and achieving their goals. I am always happy seeing women being awarded, mentioned, seen, and admired—not as an exception or because they are women—but because they delivered to the world a high-quality work of art or their voice played an important role in a discussion. 

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

Sama’ Abdulhadi! She is an extremely brave and exciting artist from Palestine who is not only producing amazing music, but is also an exceptionally fearless human being. I hope her voice will change more than just the music scene.

My girl-power anthem right now is ____.

I was always more interested in fragility, empathy, and intensity of sight than the idea of bringing even more power to a world overwhelmed with noise, chaos, and violence. But if my values could have a voice, it would probably be the soft but hypnotizing sound of Melanie De Biasio singing “I’m Gonna Leave You.”

Experience Hania’s unique sound and other women artists on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below:

Et Voilà, Eurovision Runner-Up Barbara Pravi Is EQUAL Artist of the Month

June 30, 2021

French singer, writer, and actress Barbara Pravi isn’t afraid of a little competition. Earlier this year, she represented her country in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. The performer instantly captured the hearts of fans around the world and went on to place second in the competition for her song “Voilà.”

Barbara continues to inspire as this month’s featured artist in 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.

Through our ongoing EQUAL campaign, we’re also extending resources and generating more opportunities for these artists by creating a global, cohesive, branded experience. As global artist of the month, Barbara will also be featured on the cover of our EQUAL Global playlist.

For the Record invited Barbara to turn up the volume and fill in the blanks on her process, inspiration, and advice for other women creators.

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

Barbara, Jacques Brel, Charles Aznavour, and Nougaro, because they know how to perfectly manipulate words. They are poets and musicians! When I listen to them, I feel that words are as important as musicality. I also love and listen to a lot of classical music. More recently, I’ve been influenced by Nathy Peluso, Sufjan Stevens, and Maria Jose Llergo, among others. 

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

Do not make any concessions. Listen to your intuition and your heart. Make the music you love to listen to.

I really think we have to be the first listeners of our music. The advantage of staying true to yourself is that at the end, you won’t have any regrets. If you make mistakes (and you will!) you will feel OK with it because they will be your mistakes. You will embrace them because you’ll learn from them and, in the end, you will be and feel better. In my opinion, the keys to being happy and proud are integrity, authenticity, self-confidence, and always having an open mind, ear, and heart.

One notable moment in my career so far is ____.

Until my first album comes out, it will be the night of Eurovision this year!

My creative process consists of ____. 

I have a million ways of making music. Sometimes I start with the words; other times, I have a melody in mind. Sometimes I have both, and sometimes neither. When that happens, I have to pick up a pencil and ask myself, “Ok, what do you want to say?”

I always try to be easy and gentle on myself and not be judgmental of my “creations,” whether they’re cool or bad. I don’t always have a handle on how they will turn out or how I’ll feel about them. 

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

The EQUAL Global Music Program is absolutely fabulous. I love the playlists—they allow me to discover women creators from all over the world. The radio and media have the power to elevate a song and make a person’s career. They should expose the world to more women. I really hope one day we’ll have more women at the head of labels and media, too. I’m so happy to be part of a generation of young women who are independent, proud, and who know that to exist, the best person you can count on is YOU. 

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

I love Silly Boy Blue, November Ultra, P.R2B, Saskia, and Kalika. They are all French women artists who are getting to be big!

My girl-power anthem is ____. 

Qui a décidé ce qu’est la femme? 

Un bouton de rose 

un brun de flamme

Aucun des deux 

ou bien tout à la fois

La femme, la femme, la femme.

Translation:

Who decides what a woman is?

A rosebud

A sparkling flame

Neither and both at once

Woman, woman, woman.

Keep celebrating Barbara and other women artists on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below:

EQUAL Artist of the Month Jorja Smith Shares Her Advice for Women Creators

June 7, 2021

Award-winning R&B artist Jorja Smith has made a name for herself in today’s music scene thanks to her soulful jazz-tinged sound and heartfelt lyrics. The British singer-songwriter takes inspiration from her life, penning songs that document her journey to self-discovery and self-confidence. Her work inspires her more than 2 million followers, and she is this month’s featured artist in Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program.

The program, which launched in April earlier this year, takes aim at the gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying the work of women creators. It’s part of Spotify’s new campaign, EQUAL, to demonstrate our commitment to fostering equity for women in audio and celebrating their global contributions. To do so, we’re extending resources and generating more opportunities for these artists by creating a global, cohesive, branded experience with EQUAL.

We’re turning up the volume on women artists like Jorja. And, as the global artist of the month, she will be featured on the cover of our EQUAL Global playlist, giving her more visibility around the globe.

In addition to the relatable, resonant themes in her music, Jorja was also selected to join EQUAL because of her efforts to uplift emerging women artists in her work. The song “Bussdown” from the singer’s recent EP features U.K. rapper Shaybo and is a powerful collaboration between two women at the forefront of international music culture. 

To get to know the R&B star, For the Record asked Jorja to fill in the blanks and share her advice for other women using their voices to change the industry.

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone, Mos Def, Damien Marley, Alicia Keys, Adele . . . I can just keep going because I’m newly inspired by old classics that I hadn’t discovered when I was younger.

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

It’s always easier said than done, but just be you because you’re you and you cannot be anyone else. Don’t watch others and think “why aren’t I where they are, I’m not as good,” or out of spite or jealousy. Only watch others to be inspired and motivated, because that’s what we should do as women—want to inspire and uplift each other to be the best versions of ourselves.

One notable moment in my career so far ____.

Moving into my house, putting up my plaques, and sitting back like, “Wow, you did that.”

My creative process consists of ____.

Just getting lost with whatever I start singing or freestyling. Once I start singing, I record because usually I just speak my mind and the lyrics flow. Other times I get melodies down but can’t figure out what to say. I think it’s because what I was trying to say hadn’t happened yet.

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

More women everywhere. On set, in studio producing, front of house, head of music, publishing companies, and record labels. The list goes on and on. I’m so used to a mixed and balanced team, I sometimes forget that the industry is very male-dominated—until I get on a set and remember.

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

Shaybo. She can flow on any beat, and I’m just captured by her love, her realness, and the way she captures how I feel in her bars.

My girl-power anthem right now is ____.

“Wildfires” by SAULT because it makes me feel strong.

Keep celebrating Jorja and other women artists on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist below:

Get to Know Some of the Women Featured in Spotify’s New EQUAL Music Program

April 29, 2021

This past March, in celebration of International Women’s Day, Spotify unveiled our new EQUAL hub—our most recent commitment to fostering equity for women in music globally. Today, we’re taking that promise one step further with the launch of our EQUAL Global Music Program.

According to the USC Annenberg study funded by Spotify on representation of women in the music industry, only one in five artists on the charts are women. Yet we know how integral women artists’ influence has been on Spotify and the music industry at large. To begin to upend this disparity, we must amplify the work of women creators by extending our resources and generating more opportunities for these artists, which we’re doing by creating a global, cohesive, branded experience with the EQUAL Global Music Program. We want to do our part: We know that when we give more power to creators, more people listen—and that music shapes the future. So, we’re turning up the volume.

Look out for 35 EQUAL local playlists spanning artists from 50+ countries—from Japan to Argentina, from Malaysia to the UK—as well as our “best-of” flagship EQUAL Global Playlist containing music from EQUAL artists from all around the world. Each month, one artist will be featured on the cover of their respective local playlist, in addition to receiving essential organic and on-platform promotion in their home country and beyond. 

We’re also excited to unveil our Created By Women Playlist to launch within the EQUAL hub, a first-of-its-kind offering featuring 40 songs written, produced, and performed 100% exclusively by women songwriters, producers, and artists from around the world. We’re also relaunching our EQUAL Directory (formerly EQL Directory). This partnership with SoundGirls allows women of all experiences and gender-nonconforming creators to create a profile and claim their space in the community of women changing the game in audio. Finally, we’re creating an EQUAL Board, or a network of organizations joining forces with Spotify to empower women globally. These organizations include She’s the Music (U.S.), Girls Rock Australia Network (Australia), shesaid.so (Italy), MEWEM Europa (Europe), Girl Connected (Canada), Music Women (Germany), and Girls Rock Camp (Brazil).

Can’t wait to hit “play?” We asked some of our EQUAL playlist editors to tell us about some of the inaugural EQUAL artists and why they’re so excited to spotlight them and their work. 

Zoe Wees – Germany 

“We believe many can relate to Zoe and her song ‘Girls Like Us,’ which is about the feeling of insecurity and not fitting in. But above all, it is an empowering anthem and therefore a great fit for our EQUAL launch. At age 18, Zoe Wees has not only proven to be a very honest and emotional songwriter, she also has a powerful voice and is winning fans over, far beyond Germany.”

Saweetie – U.S.

“Saweetie’s own music, as well as her collaborations with Ariana Grande, Bebe Rexha, and Gwen Stefani in recent months, has made it clear that she is a dynamic and versatile force with which to be reckoned. She represents a new class of women artists on the rise who are contributing to building equity in the industry, and her dominance as a woman in her genre speaks to our hypothesis with the EQUAL program that all types of listeners want to listen to women.” 

Griff – UK

“What makes Griff an artist that everyone should hear is her unique and boundless ability to create her own world through her music as a singer, songwriter, producer, art director, and fashion designer, as well as her raw and timeless vocals that capture the emotions of her generation.”

Natalia Lafourcade – Mexico

“Natalia Lafourcade has become one of the greatest exponents of Latin music. During the last five years of her career, Natalia has focused on honoring Latin American folk music, magnifying our roots and taking it to places where it has never been before. Listening to Natalia is a sublime experience: In addition to being an exceptional composer, she’s also a great performer—a voice steeped in romanticism and nostalgia that sings love stories to shake and move our soul.”

DUDA BEAT – Brazil

“DUDA BEAT is a strong female artist who has no fear of creating her own space and original sound. She brings this pop-leaning, sophisticated, and very Brazilian-sounding sonority and aesthetics that excite and challenge her listeners. Her music is a perfect expression of contemporary Brazil: very connected to its roots, culture, and origins while at the same time super in touch with modern trends and constantly pushing itself into new directions.”

Nenny – Portugal

“Portugal is a small market, so EQUAL is a great showcase for its female artists, and Nenny has the potential to go global. She’s a good example of the mark that Portuguese Afrodescendants are leaving in today’s music, and a singer-rapper with street cred in the male-dominated world of Portuguese hip-hop. Nenny appears to be an Afroportuguese Rihanna showing a strong, unique personality through her lyrics (self-affirmative, proud of her heritage, and also socially conscious) and great flair in her singing.”

BOWKYLION – Thailand

“Bowkylion is a born artist; she writes all her own music and produces it as well. Her signature pop tunes and meaningful lyrics prove that music is universal. Bowkylion is one artist everyone should hear because she was the most-streamed female artist in Spotify Thailand 2020, edging out many top international and local acts, and it’s a great opportunity to introduce her to the rest of the world.”

CHAI – Japan

“‘Be the change that you want to see!’ is the message behind this CHAI song, which we thought was a great fit for the EQUAL program. Their neo-kawaii [new cute] songs, along with the overall positive messages they portray throughout their music, are the main reasons why they should be heard by everyone.”

Gyakie – Ghana

“In a country where there isn’t much opportunity for female musicians, Gyakie is braving the odds and changing the status quo, breaking charts both locally and globally that even her male counterparts have not reached. Her unique blend of traditional Ghanaian highlife with Afropop and R&B, coupled with simple yet relatable lyrics, makes Gyakie an exciting artist to fall in love with.”

Tkay Maidza – Australia

“Tkay is one of the most exciting and dynamic artists to come out of Australia in recent years and is a great example of an artist who is pushing musical boundaries and forging their own path. Tkay’s music is full of individualism, confidence, creativity, honesty, and empowerment—all qualities that we want to encourage and celebrate through EQUAL in Australia. Tkay is consistently taking us by surprise with the way she fuses elements of hip-hop, R&B, indie, electronic, pop, and everything in between and beyond in her music. Her powerhouse vocals are a guide through colourful tracks that both move and challenge listeners.” 

Wendy – South Korea

“With her recent solo EP out, Wendy proves to be a strong artist from Korea with her talent that resonates globally. As one of K-Pop’s most influential artists, Wendy’s voice is powerful yet healing, strong yet sophisticated. Listeners and fans will not only hear but also feel her sense of empathy, warmth and gratitude through her voice and artwork. Through EQUAL, we hope more listeners worldwide can discover Wendy and truly feel the warmth she exudes.”

Find all these amazing artists and more on the EQUAL Global Playlist.

Reaffirming Our Commitment to Combating Inequity

April 27, 2021

Day after day, we are reminded how far we all still must go to combat racism and systemic inequity in our society and our company. Spotify’s support of the Black community remains unwavering, and our commitment to do more is stronger than ever. We’ve made strides in our efforts, but we still have a long way to go. 

Today, we are sharing our progress and how we plan to do more to continue to fight against racism and injustice.

Combating Racism in Our Workplace

Our commitment to combating inequity and racism starts in our hallways—both physical and virtual—which is why workplace diversity (who we are) and inclusion (how we engage with each other) are both so important to achieve equity. The BLK 5-Star Strategy has helped make a holistic and lasting impact at Spotify through our focus on People, Donations & Fundraising, Policy, Content, and Spotify Culture. 

Some of our progress so far when it comes to our own people includes: 

  • Launching our Inclusive Hiring Strategy. As of the end of December 2020, representation of Black Spotifiers in the U.S. increased to 8.3% (from 6.4% in June 2020, 5.7% in 2019, and 3.7% in 2017), with 7.2% at Director+ level by the end of December 2020.
  • Reorganizing and expanding the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) team to encompass DIB Strategy Specialists, Early Career Pipeline, Heart & Soul, Inclusive Hiring, and Social Media & Digital Storytelling teams.
  • Launching the Black Coaching Initiative, with over 60 BLK members participating in executive coaching and 30 BLK members participating in the personal branding academy.
  • Developing an education hub for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging learning & development.
  • Updating our Racial Equity content on our external career website and expanding our content on DIB via the 2020 Sustainability, Equity, and Impact Report.

Effecting Policy Change

Our commitment to policy change is about using Spotify’s global reach and influence to effect and drive real change. We will do this by supporting legislation and funding organizations that are truly making a difference in the search for racial equity. Our giving initiative provides us with the opportunity to build strategic programs and partnerships focused on empowering the next generation of Black creators. A few examples: 

Empowering and Celebrating Creators On Platform

We’re committed to using our powerful platform to empower and celebrate creators of every race, ethnicity, religion, sexual identity, and gender, and curating top audio destinations featuring Black, LGBTQIA+, women, AAPI, and other underrepresented voices. A few examples that we’re proud of:

Last June, in honor of Blackout Tuesday, we stated: On this day—and every day—Spotify will support our employees, friends, partners, artists, and creators in the fight against racism, injustice, and inequity. We are using the power of our platform to stand with Black creators, amplify their voices, and accelerate meaningful conversation and long-needed change.

We continue to stand with the Black community and fight against racism, injustice, and inequity around the world.