Tag: London

Lola Young Celebrates Her New Album With an Intimate Evening for Spotify Fans

September 24, 2025

Forget the red carpet and velvet ropes. To mark the release of her new album, Lola Young decided to invite fans into her world. Last week, she welcomed her top Spotify listeners in London, along with friends and family, to Shoreditch’s Protein Studios for a night of deeply personal performances.

The crowd gathered in “Lola’s room,” where she performed several tracks from her just-released album, I’m Only F**king Myself—her first since the Londoner went viral with her chart-topping 2024 hit, “Messy.”

The set included several new songs, like “SPIDERS,” “Post Sex Clarity,” “Walk All Over You,” and “Penny Out of Nothing.” Blending live music and poetry, Lola gave the audience an intimate look into the themes that shaped the album.

Ed Sheeran’s ‘Play’ Comes to Life With Spotify’s Special Fan Event in London

September 17, 2025

Forget just hearing a new album; last night, London lived one. Together with Spotify, Ed Sheeran pulled off a surprise event that redefined how fans can connect with their favorite artists.

The evening began with an exclusive, immersive listening party for Ed’s new album, Play, at London’s Lightroom space. Fans were surrounded by world-class audio and exclusive footage from Ed’s recording process, making for a multisensory journey into the creative heart of Play.

But the real showstopper? When the lights came up, Ed Sheeran himself walked onto the stage for a surprise chat with host Nihal Arthanayake. The artist pulled back the curtain on Play, sharing stories about its creation, writing music for his wife, Cherry, and collaborating with producer Fred again..

On work-life balance, Ed said, “In my early career, it was 100% work, 0% personal life. Now it’s 70% family, 30% music. Balance isn’t just healthy, it’s success. When I look back at these years with my family and friends, I want to say: I lived those days and I enjoyed every minute.”

He spoke about writing for—and about—Cherry: “Cherry knows I write about everything, not just the good stuff,” he said. “Songs like ‘Perfect’ exist, but so do the ones about real conflict. That’s part of any relationship, and I think it’s important to be honest about it.”

And as for working with Fred again.., Ed said, “Fred taught me pace. You get the idea down first—don’t overthink it. If it’s great, we’ll figure it out. We’d write five songs in a day, just bang, bang, bang, then come back a month later and pick what’s worth finishing.” He added, “It’s the antithesis of the Swedish pop way, where you spend a week on one song. With Fred, it’s energy first, then polish.”

Spotify and Royel Otis Team Up on a Special ‘hickey’ Album Release Show for Top Fans

August 22, 2025

With their new album, hickey, out now, Aussie indie darlings Royel Otis decided to start the celebrations early by bringing their emotionally charged, hook-filled sound to the UK. On Thursday night, the duo played an intimate show at London’s Village Underground, exclusively for their top Spotify fans.

 

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Formed in 2020 in Sydney, Royel and Otis have always moved with an unshakable sense of self, and hickey represents their most fearless leap yet. 

This special celebration gave fans the opportunity to hear brand new material from the album, performed live for the very first time. The setlist included recent singles “Moody” and “Say Something,” along with much-loved hits like “Oysters In My Pocket” and their viral covers “Linger” and “Murder On the Dancefloor.”

Spotify and Taylor Swift Connect Fans Worldwide with a Global Billboard Campaign and Exclusive Playlist

August 15, 2025

At 12:12 a.m. on August 12, Times Square lit up with something new: a bright orange-and-mint billboard featuring a Spotify code. Within minutes, fans were scanning, sharing, and listening.

To lead into the announcement of Taylor’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, Spotify launched a worldwide activation across 12 locations. Each one featured the same minimalist billboard with no text, only the code, linking directly to a playlist on Taylor’s official Spotify profile.

 

Inside USHER’s Star-Studded ‘Black Box’ Event in London

April 1, 2025

USHER’s London takeover is in full swing. After kicking off his sold-out run of shows at the O2 Arena to rave reviews, the R&B icon joined forces with Spotify for a special evening at the legendary Soho venue The Box on Sunday.

The event marked the debut of “Black Box,” a variety show celebrating Black excellence in homage to the “Chitlin’ Circuit” revues of the 1950s and ’60s. 

The crowd was treated to a set list of some of USHER’s classic hits, including “Good Kisser,” “I Don’t Mind,” and “U Don’t Have to Call.” As a signature treat, the artist tossed stacks of “USH POUNDS” across the room, adding an extra layer of excitement to the night.

Neneh Cherry Takes Us on a Musical Journey Inspired by Her Memoir, ‘A Thousand Threads’

November 20, 2024

Neneh Cherry, a musical trailblazer for more than three decades, is full of stories. In her new memoir, A Thousand Threads, she pulls back the curtain on her extraordinary life, from her early childhood in Sweden to her mother’s marriage to jazz musician Don Cherry; from recording with punk group The Slits in London to her career as a solo artist.

To celebrate the audiobook release of A Thousands Threads, Neneh joined Spotify on Tuesday for a fireside chat at our London office hosted by presenter and author Annie Mac. The event was a rare opportunity for fans to hear from Neneh herself, alongside her daughter, singer-songwriter Mabel.

As guests arrived, they were treated to the beats of London-based DJ Sandra Omari. British Jamaican chef and artist Denai Moore provided a special menu of drinks and snacks inspired by Neneh’s iconic discography and the places woven through her memoir.

Celebrate Notting Hill Carnival With Our Carnival Sounds Hub, the Ultimate Audio Destination for Caribbean Music and Culture

August 21, 2024

On August 25 and 26, an estimated 2 million attendees will flock to London for Notting Hill Carnival, a vibrant celebration of the U.K.’s Caribbean community. As one of Europe’s biggest street festivals, the annual event brings a spectacular display of costumes, colors, and sounds to the city. Revelers take to the streets for parades, food, and music, with sound systems and DJs spinning dub, reggae, soca, soulful house, and everything in between.

As part of our commitment to celebrating Caribbean culture and amplifying Black voices around the world, Spotify is proud to partner with Notting Hill Carnival for the fifth consecutive year. And this year, we’re marking the occasion with our newly launched Carnival Sounds hub on Spotify, bringing fans the opportunity to experience the music, stories, and culture they know and love in one place.

Want to discover reggae’s very best? Our Irie playlist has you covered. Craving the faster-paced, drum-heavy rhythms of soca? Look no further than Massive Soca Hits. There’s also the Carnival Sounds 2024 playlist, our popular Dancehall Official playlist, and many more.

Fans can also dive into the rich history of Notting Hill Carnival with a curated selection of podcast episodes, or explore shows like A Shot Of Soca, a London-based podcast, and The Yaadman Podcast from Jamaican creators Davaine and Tonniel. The amplification of Caribbean voices continues outside of Spotify, too, with fun conversations like this Unwritten Rules of Carnival guide, with artists Alicai Harley and Kairo Keyz and creators Indiyah Polack, Ugly Andz, and Faceinthenews.

“Notting Hill Carnival is more than just a celebration; it’s a powerful expression of Caribbean identity and a testament to the global impact of its culture,” said Safiya Lambie-Knight, Spotify’s Head of Music Partnerships, Northern Europe. “We’re excited to bring back Carnival Sounds to celebrate the rich heritage and music of Carnival and to support and elevate Caribbean artists, voices, and communities. It’s great to be able to help people to discover and engage with the culture ahead of Carnival weekend.”

Building on this year’s festivities, Spotify has also teamed up with Trippin World, a platform that empowers people to travel more consciously. Together, we’ll bring Caribbean culture to even more people around the world, celebrating its impact and importance through the eyes of Notting Hill Carnival.

Head to our Carnival Sounds hub to immerse yourself in all things Caribbean.

A New Spotify Documentary Spotlights UK Youth Centers

August 1, 2024

Youth spaces are crucial for the well-being of children and young people, as they instill a deep sense of belonging and ignite creativity. But in the U.K., these spaces have been in rapid decline due to decades of funding cuts, leaving young people with fewer places to be creative and engage with their communities in positive ways.

To underscore the importance of youth spaces in the U.K., Spotify has teamed up with the London-based youth mentoring organization Mentivity to release our new short film The Centre. Filmed and directed by Adeyemi Michael, The Centre showcases the transformative impact youth spaces can have on burgeoning local artists and U.K. music culture at large, which has birthed influential genres like grime and U.K. drill.

Featuring hip-hop duo Young T & Bugsey, rapper Ms Banks, drummer Femi Koleoso from the Mercury Prize-winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, and MC and producer Novelist, The Centre chronicles the ways each artist’s youth club experiences helped inspire their creative journeys and the music they produce to this day.

Keeping youth spaces alive

While 750 youth spaces across the U.K. have closed since 2010, they still play a vital role in fostering the creative development of young people across the country. In fact, these spaces have helped shape the careers of some of today’s leading artists and musicians. Take Young T & Bugsey, who met at age 15 and spent the following years honing their craft at youth spaces in their hometown of Nottingham. To date, they’ve racked up more than 850 million streams on Spotify.

According to a recent survey commissioned by Spotify, 70% of young people in the U.K. feel that youth clubs help nurture creative talent, and 74% want to learn more about creative industries. More than three quarters (77%) believe youth spaces create a safe environment for young people.

In addition to highlighting the ways youth spaces have meaningfully impacted U.K artists, The Centre celebrates the opening of Mentivity House, a newly developed youth space in the southeast London neighborhood of Peckham.

“Mentivity House is an example of how we reclaim our block,” said Mentivity founder Sayce Holmes-Lewis. “Over a decade in the making, this is a full-circle moment for me. Growing up and working here for 25 years, I’ve seen regeneration change the area. We’re committed to strengthening our roots and creating a lasting legacy for our community, helping young people become the best versions of themselves.”

Our partnership with Mentivity follows our global partnership with UNICEF to help ensure that young people around the world can access trusted and engaging mental health audio content. We teamed up with UNICEF to create the Our Minds Matter hub on Spotify, where listeners can find music and talk playlists that support mental health and well-being.

Billie Eilish and Spotify Invite You Inside the Mysterious Universe of ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’

May 9, 2024

Billie Eilish fans have been waiting with bated breath for her third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, arriving May 17. Now, together with Spotify, Billie invites fans to step inside the vast, mysterious world of her new project with an immersive listening experience at the innovative London showspace Lightroom.

On May 16 and 17, Lightroom’s large-scale projections and state-of-the-art sound system will take fans on a one-of-a-kind journey through the HIT ME HARD AND SOFT universe.

First, visitors will dive into Billie’s world through the album art—a haunting image of the artist underwater, barefoot, and floating beneath a white wooden door. As they make their way through the 10 tracks, they’ll plunge deeper into the concepts and music. For the final track, “BLUE,” they’ll make their way back up through an expansive body of water until finally reaching fresh air—and an entirely new perspective.

Multiple showings of the experience will take place across both days to accommodate thousands of fans. Visitors can head to Lightroom now to RSVP. Located in the city’s King’s Cross neighborhood, the four-story performance space is designed to host artist-led shows.

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT marks Billie’s first full-length album in three years, following up on 2021’s Happier Than Ever and 2019’s WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? With each album release, Spotify has helped connect Billie devotees to the dark-pop prodigy in new and exciting ways, including a multisensory interactive experience, our first-ever artist hub, special on-platform album experiences, and more.

Billie fans, be sure to pre-save HIT ME HARD AND SOFT now. In the meantime, enjoy our This Is Billie Eilish playlist to hear the artist’s very best.

Advertisers and Creators Come Together at Our First-Ever Spotify Sparks in London

May 2, 2024

With more than 600 million users around the world tuned in to Spotify, there’s no shortage of opportunity for brands and businesses to connect with their fans in creative ways on our platform.

Last year, we launched Spotify Sparks to help educate advertisers on why Spotify is the destination for reaching the most engaged audiences and leveraging culture-shaping content for impactful advertising campaigns. Following two successful summits in Brazil and India, we brought Spotify Sparks to the U.K. for the first-ever London edition. On May 1, Spotify executives, industry leaders, content creators, and advertisers gathered for a series of live discussions, presentations, and interactive sessions that explored the full power of the Spotify ecosystem.

During the event, Grace Kao, Spotify’s Global Head of Advertising Business Marketing, moderated a conversation with Alex Norström, Spotify’s Co-President and Chief Business Officer, about the evolution of Spotify as a platform and the growth of our global advertising business.

We’re sharing highlights from Grace’s conversation with Alex, as well as Grace’s insights about the inaugural event, the latest ad experience innovations, the feel-good power of audio, and more.

Alex, what have been the most memorable moments of growth during your 13-year Spotify tenure?

Alex: For me, it’s been when we’ve had to bet the farm and commit surgery on ourselves a couple of times. Moments when you ask, Are we really going to do that? The first was when the world shifted from desktop to mobile—clearly evident now, not so much at the time. It paid off, we basically got a ton of growth, and in one month we grew more than the 12 months prior. Same with podcasts. We’re now in our second phase of podcasts, but a few years ago we had to start and establish our reach.

Has adding Audiobooks in Premium been another one of those moments?

Alex: I think so. The moment started last year, when we took a hard look at our proposition and saw there was so much consumer surplus. People spend hours and hours on our product. So, it was the right time to raise prices. This was new for us. But at the same time, we’re putting more value back in. An example being audiobooks, but also music videos and AI Playlist. We keep adding features to reinvest back proportionally.

Something that people don’t realize and we don’t talk about much is that our innovation is feature-led. We’ve been innovating in features—AI DJ, Spotify Connect, and daylist are good examples. Instead of leaning back and just letting the AI and the ML take care of how users interact with Spotify, we actively construct and innovate on features. Which I love.

And what advice can you share with these marketers at Spotify Sparks?

Alex: I’ll talk about marketing from our perspective. We saw a few years ago that as the cost of media increases, the price of advertising goes up. So whether you’re a global brand or a start-up, it’s more expensive to market. When things are expensive, they are riskier. So, you naturally become more risk-averse. 

We always try to look at things differently. So we said, If you have millions of users, you can tell compelling stories on the platform. You can talk to the users about their consumption on the platform and what’s relevant. And the hope is they then share with their friends on their networks.

That’s what Wrapped is. When you hit the spot, it’s amazing—it’s marketing and messaging that is very efficient. And we see great growth and retention.

Spotify Tests Video-Based Learning Courses in the UK

March 25, 2024

Today we’re launching a test for video-based courses on Spotify in the U.K. We’ve partnered with educational tech companies including BBC Maestro, PLAYvirtuoso, Skillshare, and Thinkific to bring video content directly to Spotify users.

U.K. users will now find video courses for purchase alongside their favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks. The content for courses on Spotify covers a variety of topics categorized into four main themes: make music, get creative, learn business, and healthy living, giving listeners an abundance of options to expand their knowledge. 

“Testing video courses in the U.K. allows us to explore an exciting opportunity to better serve the needs of our users who have an active interest in learning,” said Babar Zafar, VP Product Development at Spotify. “Many of our users engage with podcasts and audiobooks on a daily basis for their learning needs, and we believe this highly engaged community will be interested in accessing and purchasing quality content from video course creators. At Spotify, we’re constantly striving to create new offerings for our creators and users, and having built best-in-class personalized music and podcast offerings, we look forward to exploring the potential of video-based learning on Spotify.”

With this offer, we are exploring a potential opportunity to provide educational creators with a new audience who can access their video content, reaching a bigger potential swath of engaged Spotify users while expanding our catalog. About half of Spotify Premium subscribers have engaged in education or self-help-themed podcasts.  

For this test, U.K. Free users and Premium subscribers will be able to trial at least two lessons per course for free before making the decision to purchase additional lessons, which they can do on a dedicated web page.

Try it out for yourself:

  • On the mobile app, U.K. users will find course videos in the home and browse tabs.
  • Once clicked through, users can explore available courses across the four categories before purchasing them on desktop. Once purchased, the courses will be available on mobile and desktop. 
  • On desktop: https://courses.spotify.com/home
  • Users can select courses they’re interested in, and upon purchase, start learning, watching on mobile app or desktop.

Learn more about our content partners: 

  • BBC Maestro creates content to educate and inspire people to explore their creativity. Through prerecorded lessons and detailed course notes, anyone can learn a wide range of disciplines and follow in the footsteps of experts respected all over the world. www.bbcmaestro.com
  • WHATCLASS (formerly PLAYvirtuoso) is transforming modern music learning through artist-led classes, feedback, and structured pathways. WHATCLASS develops artists to become inspirational educators and empower learners with real skills and outcomes. https://whatclass.com/
  • Skillshare is an online learning community where millions of creatives go to develop and deepen their skills. Watch thousands of creative classes in topics including design, freelance, 3D animation, entrepreneurship, photography, productivity, and more. Join today at https://join.skillshare.com/learn 
  • Thinkific Labs Inc. is a leading platform for creating, marketing, and selling courses, digital products, communities, and learning experiences. www.thinkific.com

Update as of June 25, 2024:

Spotify has partnered with Superintelligent, an education platform that teaches anyone to use AI for work and fun, to bring new content to its courses platform for U.K. users. The partnership will bring 10 different courses and companion how-to’s that provide step-by-step instructions for using the most important AI Tools.

Scores, Songs, and Supper Served at Our Spotify Supper in London

September 18, 2023

Olivia Dean Performing

Good food, good conversation, and amazing music. Is there anything better?

That’s what was served up last week in London at our annual Spotify Supper, which included a live performance by Olivia Dean, our EQUAL UK & Ireland ambassador and recent Mercury Prize nominee.

Spotify Supper began in 2016 as a way to bring together executives with advertising and publishing partners for an evening to remember. The dinners have become a much-anticipated staple of our brand, and the latest, held in London, was no exception. Guests were treated to a multisensory experience with “Blend”-inspired cocktails and enjoyed desserts from the Soft Serve Society that took a cue from our Sonic Science research.