Tag: festival

5 Things To Know About Swedish House Mafia’s After-Hours Album Release Party With Spotify

April 15, 2022

Photo credit: Alexander Wessely

 

If you missed out on snagging festival tickets but still want to experience live music from your living room, you’re invited to a first-of-its-kind event: Swedish House Mafia After Hours Presented by Spotify, Paradise Again Album Release Party Live From the Desert. As part of Spotify Live’s slate of launch events, fans in select markets will be able to tune in to tonight’s late-night set by visiting Swedish House Mafia’s artist page and selecting the “live” banner once the party begins. 

Curious what to expect once the festivities kick off after dark? Here are five fast facts on Swedish House Mafia and the event:

  1. Tonight’s party is the warm-up for Swedish House Mafia’s first tour in 10 years. Although the full run of dates doesn’t kick off until July, this desert set will give you a sneak peek of what to expect when they roll through your town this summer. (Or later this weekend during their headlining performance!)
  2. Swedish House Mafia has been around for 14 years, but Paradise Again is their first studio album. As it was just released today, the After Hours party will be your first chance to hear your favorite cuts from the album in a live setting.
  3. Before the livestream kicks off, Damian Lazarus and Cole Knight will be the opening DJs for the fans in attendance, bringing their signature house, techno, and electro sounds along with them.
  4. Swedish House Mafia After Hours Presented by Spotify, Paradise Again Album Release Party Live From the Desert will be streamed as a one-time-only affair on Spotify Live, which means that if you miss it, you won’t be able to check out this set later. Tune in by visiting Swedish House Mafia’s artist page and tapping on the “live” button once the party begins!
  5. With 17.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and appearances on 39 million fan-created playlists, Swedish House Mafia is definitely a streaming force to be reckoned with. But what’s more, their classic track with John Martin, “Don’t You Worry Child,” is one of the most-streamed songs among fans’ festival playlists this weekend. And since the festival lineup was announced January 12, 2022 their track with The Weeknd, “Moth to a Flame,” has seen a 130% increase in streams.

This is sure to be an unforgettable party, so tune in to celebrate later tonight.

How To Get Hyped for Festival Season With Spotify

April 14, 2022

Comfy shoes: check. Glow sticks: check. Fanny pack: check. Festival season is upon us and you may have all the gear you need for your music-filled weekend, but have you caught up on the latest hits from all the live acts you can’t wait to see?

From the drive to the venue to the parking lot after-party, Spotify wants to help you check that box so you have all you need music-wise. Here are a few ways you can get festival-ready using Spotify:

  • Blend with festival headliners: You can now Blend with some of your favorite festival headliners, like Megan Thee Stallion—a perfect way to get amped for their upcoming performances. You’ll also receive a social sharecard, which shares your taste-match scores and lets you see your listening preferences compared to the artist.

  • Blend with your festival crew: Headed to the next festival with your friends? Thanks to our new Blend features, you can now create a Blend playlist with up to 10 people, allowing you and your crew to listen to all of your favorite tracks in one shared personalized playlist. Now y’all can get pumped for the show together.
  • Get hyped for the lineup with the ultimate Bluetooth speaker: Elevate your festival game with the VAPPEBY Bluetooth speaker lamp from IKEA. Complete with Spotify Tap, this festival-ready device features one-touch access to Spotify, two different light modes, and a 12-hour battery life so you can go all day and night.

  • Elevate your jam sesh: Kick-start your festival prep—whether that’s in the car or getting ready at home—with a Group Session. You and your friends can simultaneously stream all of your favorite festival jams even before you link up. 
  • Don’t stop the music: Crank up the music even if you don’t have Wi-Fi access. Spotify’s Offline mode allows Spotify Premium subscribers to play downloaded tracks at any point. 

  • Keep the memories alive with a post-festival playlist: As the sets wrap, you and your friends can commemorate an unforgettable festival with a collaborative playlist. And make it uniquely yours by customizing the playlist cover with your favorite photo from the weekend.

This month, thousands of fans will be driving to the desert to catch headliners like Harry Styles and Billie Eilish in California. Across the Atlantic, concertgoers will be traveling to Lagos, Nigeria, to jam to performances by Fireboy DML, Central Cee, Fave, and more. Whether you have plans for these festivals or a different one is on your hit list, Spotify has everything you need to get ready for a weekend of nonstop music.  

Now crank up the music and listen to the latest from your favorite headliners while you finish packing.

 

Catch Up on the Festival di Sanremo With Camihawke and Alice Venturi on the ‘Tutte le Volte Che’ Podcast

January 31, 2022

Italy’s Festival di Sanremo is an annual music competition where artists perform new songs in the native country’s language. The show, which takes place at the famous Ariston Theater, is broadcast live on television and the winners are determined both by votes from a jury and by guests watching and voting from home.

This year, whether you’re a fan watching the performances in Liguria or tuning in from the comfort of your living room, you can find plenty of Sanremo-related podcasts and music on Spotify. Listeners can explore songs through playlists like Sanremo 2022 and Sanremo: La Storia on Spotify’s Sanremo Hub, and they can sing along to their favorite hits with the Lyrics feature on the app.

Fans looking to dive deeper into the festival can check out Tutte le Volte Che, the popular Spotify Studios podcast cohosted by Italian influencers Camilla Boniardi and Alice Venturi. For their weekly show, where they chat about their personal experiences, they will release six special episodes focused on the Festival di Sanremo. In these episodes, the two have fun recounting and sharing their opinions on this year’s performances.

For the Record caught up with Camilla and Alice to learn more about their special edition episodes and why the festival is so important to them.

The Festival di Sanremo is a pretty significant event for you two. Isn’t that where you first met?

Alice: We met in Sanremo in 2017 while we were both working with the same brand, in the same place, and with the same agency. But we had never met before! The job consisted of leading daily livestreaming from the brand’s spot in Sanremo.

A member of the staff introduced us and asked us to test making a livestream video together. The result was unexpected: We felt like we had known each other for forever, despite just meeting. A director of an Italian radio show saw us interacting and, just one year later, we started a new adventure as radio hosts together!

Why did you decide to create special podcast episodes dedicated to Sanremo? 

Camilla: Our podcast, Tutte le Volte Che, aims to share real chats between 30-year-old friends sharing their point of view about everything happening—from serious to entertaining topics. And we couldn’t miss Sanremo! Festival di Sanremo is known as the most important music event in Italy and for a week, it’s the talk of the town! Everybody talks about Sanremo, especially the morning after each show. So, in this special edition of our podcast, we are going to talk about what’s happening during this festival but also share some gems from the past.

What is your favorite part of Sanremo?

Camilla: My favorite part of the show, besides the music performances, is the artists’ “grand entrance.” I don’t know why but I always hope one of the artists slides down the stairway, obviously without getting hurt. It would be a very fun moment!

Alice: I obviously love the music performances but also everything about Sanremo. Every year, I spend all of my “Sanremo week” watching artist interviews, sound checks, and I can’t resist following the festival’s bizarre moments, like “police chases in the night” (i.e., “the Orietta Berti situation” in 2020). Sanremo always has some big surprises!

Can you share a past winner (or winners) of Sanremo that you are big fans of?

Camilla: “Come Saprei” by Giorgia in 1995. Everybody knows that song by heart—even today. That’s why I think it was very deserving of the win.

Alice: Totally agree with Cami. But my favorite edition ever is the 2001 one, when Elisa won with “Luce” and Giorgia got second with “Di sole e d’azzurro.”

 

The festival starts tomorrow and the first special edition episode of Tutte le Volte Che is available now. Give it a listen.

 

Spotify’s Equalizer Project Raises the Volume at Way Out West

August 14, 2019

The Way Out West festival in Sweden is about much more than music—it’s a three-day celebration of several sustainability- and equality-focused efforts. The artist lineup has been split 50-50 male-female for three years running, and this year’s edition, held August 8-10, amped up its commitment to equal opportunity in the music industry by teaming up with Spotify’s Equalizer Project.

Since it began two years ago in Sweden, Spotify’s Equalizer Project has expanded throughout the Nordic countries in the form of podcasts, workshops, networking events, career tools, and more. Equalizer was a perfect match for sustainability-minded Way Out West (the festival has long been meat- and dairy-free), with their combined power advancing equality in music in exciting new ways.

First, fans at Way Out West could visit the Equalizer Pop-Up Studio, a music studio created jointly by Spotify and Soundtrap. There, some of Sweden’s most talented producers and songwriters spent time recording and perfecting new tracks in plain sight. Second, artist, songwriter, and producer Linnea Henriksson presided over Equalizer Talks, a live version of the Equalizer podcast. She led a series of vibrant panel discussions and interviews on the importance of equal representation and participation in music.

Way Out West also featured 100 Live, the live-show version of the flagship Swedish hip-hop playlist 100. This was the first time the playlist had been staged as a live show. It included memorable performances by several Swedish hip-hop luminaries, among them Aden x Asme, who were invited to join Stormzy on stage during his set.

From an inside look at the music-making process to lively discussions to a landmark hip-hop showcase, check out our Way Out West recap below for all the happenings over the three days.

Day 1: International flavor in studio sessions

Thursday kicked off with several exciting performances from Swedish and international artists alike, including Silvana Imam, Zara Larsson, Spiritualized, James Blake, Blood Orange, and more. Fans also got a first look at the Equalizer Pop-Up Studio, where  Nadia Tehran, Pure Shores, Icona Pop, Selen Özan, and several talented producers got to work laying new tracks. 

“It’s very rare we see a female producer,” said Aino Jawo of Icona Pop. “That’s why it’s so much fun to be here and make music and meet other women in the music industry. We are so proud to be able to contribute a little to increased equality.” 

The studio also got a much appreciated visit from one of the festival’s headliners, Jorja Smith, to show her support for equality in the music industry. 

“Male and female producers/songwriters are equally as important,” Jorja told us. “But I do think it’s important for female artists like myself to emphasize and showcase other females we work with, as well as ourselves. Everyone on the scene supports each other, and I think as females we should encourage that more. As of yet I have never worked with [another] female producer. That’s something I’d like to change.”

Heavy Metal Is Still Making Noise, and Wacken, Germany, Is the Epicenter

July 31, 2019

If you happen to be in Hamburg, Germany, July 31 to August 3, here’s a tip: That’s not an earthquake shaking the ground beneath your feet. It’s the 30th edition of Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s largest Heavy Metal festivals, taking place about 50 miles to the northwest. We jest, but Germany is a driving force of Heavy Metal’s continued global popularity, and the streaming numbers show that this four-day festival is the turbocharged engine. 

Whether it’s an upstart artist playing underground clubs in Berlin’s Friedrichshain or an international metal titan like Sabaton, Slayer, or Demons & Wizards (all among the 2019 headliners), Wacken Open Air is the coveted place to perform. It’s not just because Germany is second only to the U.S. when it comes to overall metal streaming, though. Wacken, normally a sleepy town of 2,000, becomes an 75,000-person headbangers’ ball for the multi-stage festival—and during those few days each year, metal streaming cranks up.

Spotify users who were in the area during last year’s festival increased their metal streams 11% during those few days. More telling, though, is the global boost that occurs specifically during Wacken Open Air.

During the festival dates in 2016, overall metal streaming rose 0.8%; in 2017 it was 2.6%, and last year it was 3.6%. In other words, heavy metal excitement reverberates around the world during Wacken Open Air. The sounds seem to carry far and wide after the festival, too. So far this year ahead of Wacken Open Air, heavy metal streaming is up 3.5% globally.

Long story short, heavy metal is still very much alive and raising devil horns. As prescient Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian said to a reporter ahead of a show at Yankee Stadium in 2011, “Why would heavy metal ever go away?”

Stream Spotify’s official Heavy Metal playlist below.

The Streamingpalooza Before (and After) Music Festivals

August 1, 2018

What’s more fun than seeing your favorite band play live? How about seeing a few of your favorite bands play—plus a couple dozen potential new favorites—back-to-back with thousands of other music lovers over the course of three days?

Cue music festivals, which typically kick off in the U.S. in March with Texas-based South By Southwest (SXSW), and continue into late October with the almost 20-year-old Voodoo Fest in Louisiana. No matter which event you’re attending, you’re sure to be surrounded by abounding energy and music.

Unsurprisingly, attendees don’t limit themselves to in-person listening. According to Spotify data, fans prep for festival weekends by streaming up a storm, and reminisce afterward with the songs they enjoyed the most—including new favorites—both near the concert venue and back at home.

Take, for example, last year’s Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago. Headliners included Chance The Rapper, Arcade Fire, Lorde, and The Killers, as well as Lil Uzi Vert, Tegan and Sara, and Charli XCX. Fans came to Chicago from far and wide—with phones and headphones in tow—streaming altogether 28,755 fan-created Lollapalooza playlists (i.e., any playlist with a name related to Lollapalooza).

In the days leading up to the 26-year-old Chicago festival (which now tours in South America and Europe as well), streams of Lolla playlists spiked around the country. As fans traveled to the Midwest, the spikes moved right along with them, with the location of the streams and spikes centralizing around Chicago during the festival. Check it out:

Lollapalooza 2017 visualization by Erica Leh and Skyler Johnson

But why did the playlists continue to see engagement during the festival? Erica Leh, a data scientist at Spotify, says it’s probably because of people who couldn’t make the event, could only attend one day, or who simply had “FOMO.”

“I think the greatest effects of festivals on streaming are two-fold,” she says. “Before the festival, streaming helps hype up concert-goers and introduces them to new artists they might be interested in seeing. After the festival, it allows attendees to relive their favorite moments, and to stream artists they might not have known before seeing their sets.”

Spotify data analysts Skyler Johnson and Manish Nag discovered that an artist’s streaming numbers spike 24 percent within a 20-mile radius of the venue the week before and after a concert. The potential for a “festival bump,” then, is enormous: There are thousands of people in attendance from all over the country and beyond.

Festival 2017 streaming visualization by Erica Leh

Some festivals, like Moogfest in North Carolina or Georgia-based Shaky Knees, boast high streaming numbers in relatively local areas, while bigger draws like California’s famed Coachella and the Electric Forest festival in Michigan see streaming from coast to coast, in both urban and rural areas.

SXSW, a livestreamed festival that has historically showcased many up-and-coming artists, as well as expert talks, cultural events, and art exhibits, stands out in particular due to its entire-country takeover. “Seeing the way South By Southwest lights up the map is exciting to me, because if livestreaming music events at South By could reach so many fans, livestreaming presentations or talks could, too,” explains Erica. “Showcasing more kinds of content—from videos to podcasts to live streams—can help creators better share their ideas with the world.”

For both fans and artists, the impact of multi-day, multi-artist concerts is as large-scale and long-lasting as the memories of the event itself. Because once the tents are packed up and the grounds are cleared, the discovery of new music continues well after the crowds have gone home.

Lollapalooza 2018 is coming up this weekend, August 2 – 5. Avoid Festival FOMO by streaming one of the top-three Lolla playlists: Maximal House Music, Lollapalooza 2018, or Lollapalooza Chicago 2018!! Looking for a festival you might like based on what you listen to? Look no further.