Tag: streaming

Dua Lipa’s Service95 Book Club Podcast Is Launching on Spotify, Plus Her Summer Reading Picks

June 4, 2025

Whether she’s in the studio, on a tour bus, or traveling the world, there’s one thing Dua Lipa always carries with her: a good book. And now, the star’s acclaimed Service95 Book Club video interview series is expanding its reach with a new presence on Spotify. Starting June 10, Dua’s conversations with authors will be available for Spotify’s vast audience to view, creating new avenues for discovery and connection.

The Service95 Book Club has become a beloved space for Dua’s fans and literary enthusiasts alike, featuring her personally curated monthly reads and exclusive Q&As with authors, plus reading recommendations from the Service95 team. The Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa podcast will feature both brand-new interviews with authors of Dua’s monthly reads and a treasure trove of conversations from the Service95 archives.

“For me, one of the best things about reading is getting to chat with my friends about the book that’s just blown my mind,” said Dua. “But surely the ultimate fantasy would be to have the author in the room there with us, answering all our questions about the incredible world they’ve created. Well, I get to live out my fantasy with the Service95 Book Club podcast, where in each episode I share a book I love and I’m joined by the author themselves. As someone who really is obsessed with books, it’s a dream come true.”

To celebrate the launch, here are a few of Dua’s summer 2025 book picks: 

  • This House of Grief by Helen Garner: “It wouldn’t be my book pile without at least one harrowing story. [This is] a nonfiction account of a case that follows an accused father driving his car into a dam with his three sons in the back. I couldn’t put it down.”
  • Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: “This has been in my TBR [to-be-read] pile for a while and I can’t wait to have time to read it this summer.”
  • Fearless and Free by Josephine Baker: “Formed from over 20 years of conversations with French journalist Marcel Sauvage, this memoir has just been published in English for the first time.”

“It’s a genuine thrill to welcome Dua Lipa and the Service95 Book Club to Spotify,” said Roshni Radia, Audiobooks Editor at Spotify. “Dua’s unique style and clear passion for literature make this a perfect fit for us, and it really showcases the full ecosystem of creative talent on Spotify. We’re excited to see fans of Dua’s music fall in love with this interview series, and then go on to discover new authors whose audiobooks they can listen to right there on Spotify, too.”

Check out the trailer for the Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa, launching June 10 on Spotify.

Canadian Artists Are Thriving on Spotify—And the World Is Listening

June 4, 2025

Today, Spotify launches its Loud & Clear report—our annual deep dive into the economics of music streaming—in Canada, and with it, a powerful story of how Canadian artists are thriving on a global stage.

The timing couldn’t be better. Just over a decade since Spotify launched in Canada, the country’s music creators have become some of the most influential and most streamed in the world. With global superstars like The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Céline Dion, Tate McRae, NAV, bbno$, Charlotte Cardin, and Patrick Watson, Canadian talent has not only shaped the sound of the past 10 years—it’s exported it worldwide.

And the numbers prove it. In the last year alone, Canadian artists earned nearly $460M CAD in royalties on Spotify, a 5% increase year over year, contributing to a near doubling of earnings in the past five years alone. 

Since 2017, the number of Canadian artists generating at least $50K, $100K, $500K, and $1M CAD annually on Spotify has more than doubled. And remarkably, 92% of those royalties in 2024 came from listeners outside of Canada—a testament to how Canadian music is resonating far beyond its borders.

As Spotify marks more than 10 years of championing and amplifying Canadian voices, Loud & Clear offers a look at where those voices are going next and why the world is still turning up the volume on Canada.

A record year for Canadian artists

To underscore their gains: Canadian artists earned nearly $460M CAD in royalties from Spotify in 2024—a 5% increase from last year, and nearly double what they made in 2019. That’s not just streams; that’s sustainable careers being built in studios, basements, and tour vans from Vancouver to Halifax.

Spotify is now the number-one source of music royalties in the world and for Canada: It’s the critical engine of the music industry that’s powering the next generation of creators. Not only is Spotify the largest single source of music royalties globally, but Spotify alone paid more in royalties to the Canadian music sector in 2023 than the entire Canadian commercial radio industry combined, including royalties and Canadian Content Development (CCD) contributions. For Canadian artists, it’s helping turn streaming into a sustainable, global career path.

Recorded music revenue in Canada grew 129% between 2014 and 2024, from $397M CAD to $909M CAD. Audio streaming now accounts for nearly 79% of total recorded music revenue, with the majority from paid subscriptions like Spotify Premium.

And this success isn’t limited to major label acts: Indie artists and labels made up around 40% of all Canadian royalties on the platform last year.

“Spotify is more than a streaming service—it’s a springboard for Canadian artists to reach listeners in every corner of the globe,” said Elizabeth Phipps, Head of Artist and Label Partnerships, Spotify Canada.

Canadian sounds, global impact

Here’s what might surprise you: 92% of the royalties earned by Canadian artists on Spotify in 2024 came from outside of Canada. Fifteen million hours of music by Canadian artists are streamed every day on Spotify around the world, and that music features on 2.4B user playlists globally.

That makes Canada one of the world’s top music exporters and a key player in the global soundscape. It also means Canadian artists are making it big not just in Toronto or Montréal, but in cities like Jakarta, Osaka, Melbourne, London, São Paulo, Berlin, Mexico City, and Seoul.

And it’s not just English-language music. French-language artists saw a 15% boost in global Spotify royalties in 2024, a fivefold increase since 2017. In fact, Québécois artist Patrick Watson’s “Je te laisserai des mots” was the most popular francophone track on Spotify globally in 2024, and the first French-language track to pass 1 billion streams. 

Leading with diversity and independence

Canadian women are making both hits and history on Spotify: Since 2020, their global streams on Spotify have nearly doubled, and in 2024, more than 40% of Canadian artists earning over $1M CAD on Spotify were women or in groups with both male and female members. All this puts Canada alongside the likes of Sweden and South Korea as the top countries in the world when it comes to female representation in their top artists.

Spotify is also lifting up independent voices—from singer-songwriters in Saskatoon to label-free rappers in Scarborough—through playlisting, editorial support, and real-world activations like billboards in Sankofa Square and festival stages at Les Francos de Montréal.

“This is what Canada sounds like—diverse, digital, and not just thriving domestically, but leading on the world stage. The data is clear in underscoring the vital role that export plays in sustaining the overall health of Canada’s music industry.” said Xenia Manning, Director of Global Music Policy, Spotify.

As we look to the next 10 years of Spotify in Canada, there’s a fresh opportunity to reimagine how Canada nurtures its cultural economy and what policies it will choose for the future. Spotify is optimistic that leaders will lean into a future-facing, inclusive vision—one that reflects how today’s creators make, share, and grow their art in a digital-first world.

Because Canadian artists shouldn’t just be heard. They should be celebrated. Globally.

The Latest Spotify Data Shows EU Artists Generated a Record-Breaking €1.7B in 2024

May 28, 2025

Spotify’s commitment to transparency and artist empowerment continues to resonate across Europe—and the numbers back it up. In our most recent Loud & Clear report, we’re amplifying a major milestone: European artists earned a record-breaking €1.7 billion in royalties on Spotify in 2024 alone. That’s a 15% year-on-year increase and nearly double what EU artists earned in 2020.

This landmark comes on the heels of another big moment: Spotify Founder and CEO Daniel Ek announcing at Spotify’s recent Open House event in Stockholm that we’ve reached 100 million paying subscribers across Europe.

“Europe and European creators are a crucial part of Spotify’s DNA. That is why we’re delighted to celebrate Spotify’s European Loud & Clear data for the second year running—providing artists and creators across the EU and the world transparency around the economics of music streaming,” said Spotify’s General Manager of Europe, Federica Tremolada. “We’re also excited EU creators are continuing to transcend global borders, with over half of all royalties generated by EU artists that perform in a non-English language.”

Global resonance

We’re particularly proud to be the only streaming platform to openly share how royalties are distributed. Our latest European data paints a vivid picture of a thriving creative ecosystem:

  • 28 billion global discoveries of European artists in 2024.
  • 351.66 billion streams of EU artists by European listeners.
  • More than 830 million user-generated playlists in the U.S. included EU artists.

And with over 52,000 EU artists landing on editorial playlists (a 4% increase from 2023), the pipeline between European talent and global listeners continues to strengthen.

Artists and creators thriving off their art

Spotify is more than a platform—it’s a career launchpad. In 2024:

  • More than 17,000 EU artists earned more than €10,000.
  • More than 27,000 EU artists earned more than €5,000.

This growth is not just encouraging—it’s life-changing. Nearly 44% of all royalties generated in the EU came from EU artists, the highest percentage since we began tracking in 2017. And in a major milestone for language diversity, 57% of royalties went to artists performing in non-English languages.

Spotlighting female creators

Female voices across Europe are rising—fast. Since 2020, streams of female EU artists are up:

  • 83% globally
  • 81% across Europe

Between 2023 and 2024 alone, streams grew by 11% globally and 4% across the EU. In 2024, our EQUAL program, launched to elevate female voices in music, supported more than 200 female European artists from 19 different markets with visibility, mentorship, and industry access.

“I am especially proud of the progress we’ve made for female creators. Streams of female European artists have soared, and through our EQUAL program, more than 200 European female artists have gained vital visibility, mentorship, and support,” said Federica. “These aren’t just numbers; they represent real women, real dreams, and a real shift in what it means to have a voice in this industry.”

Beyond English, beyond borders

European languages are powering streaming charts globally. In 2024:

  • Italy became a $100M+ market for the first time.
  • Seven of the top 10 most-streamed languages were European: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Italian, Dutch, and Swedish.
  • European music exports grew on average 32% annually from 2014 to 2024.

These stats show that Europe isn’t just part of the global music conversation—it’s leading it.

Further highlights from around the region

Take a closer look at how artists are thriving across Europe:

  • France: The number of artists earning more than €100K quadrupled since 2017. French artists made up 70% of Spotify France’s Daily Top 50 in 2024.
  • Germany: 6.9 billion artist discoveries; more than half of royalty revenue went to independent acts.
  • Belgium: More than 80% of royalties came from listeners outside the country.
  • Denmark: 192 artists earned more than 500,000 DKK; total royalties nearly doubled since 2017.
  • UK: The number of artists making £10K, £50K, and £100K has more than doubled since 2017. Those earning £1M+ rose 20% year-on-year.

“Being the first and only streaming service to share data on artist remuneration, our European Loud & Clear data is a core example of how streaming continues to empower European artists and creators to surpass geographical confines—to grow global fan bases, awareness, and success,” concludes Federica.

Visit Loud & Clear by Spotify for a deeper dive into the economics of music streaming.

Spotify Celebrates a Thriving Australian Music Industry With Pop Sensation Tones And I

July 11, 2024

Around the world, the shift toward streaming has completely transformed the music industry, and Spotify has led that charge. That includes in Australia, where Spotify is helping artists grow their revenues and audiences in big ways. Just ask Tones And I, the busker turned international pop star.

On June 24, Tones And I joined Spotify’s Loud & Clear event at Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra to celebrate the growth of the country’s music industry, as well as the discoverability and global stage presence of Australian artists. Tones delivered a surprise performance for attendees including Minister for the Arts The Hon Tony Burke MP, representatives from Music Australia (a dedicated body to support and invest in the Australian contemporary music industry), and members of Parliament. The showcase included a stripped-back version of her 2019 smash hit, “Dance Monkey,” which reached 3 billion streams on Spotify earlier this year—making her the first woman to reach that milestone for a single track.

What Gen Z Listeners Are Streaming in Pakistan

September 15, 2023

Since Spotify’s launch in Pakistan in 2021, the platform has become a destination for younger generations to make their voices heard by powering unprecedented musical trends. To better understand what these listeners love, we looked at Spotify streaming data between July 2 and August 2 for listeners aged 16 to 27 to see what tracks, artists, and genres are rising to the top.

Overall, these listeners gravitate toward genres like filmi, modern Bollywood, desi pop, pop, and Punjabi pop. These high-bass beats often reverberate across Pakistan late into the evening, with 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. representing the most popular time frame for these listeners to stream music on Spotify.

We also learned that “Lagda Nahi” by Ammy Gill and Toshi is the most-streamed track for listeners between the ages of 16 and 20. Next in line are “Bikhra” and “Iraaday” by the powerful duo Abdul Hannan and Rovalio. Shifting to listeners aged 21 to 27, we found that the same songs rank in the top three, but the order is reversed: “Iraaday” ranks top, with “Bikhra” next and “Lagda Nahi” third.

One thing that the 16 to 27-year-olds can agree on: Rapper and songwriter Talha Anjum sits at the top as the most-streamed local artist for these listeners in Pakistan. He is followed by the pop legend Atif Aslam and Spotify’s Fresh Finds discovery, Abdul Hannan, who has blossomed into a global sensation.

If we turn to global artists, Indian artist and the king of heartbreak anthems Arijit Singh is the artist 16-to-27-year-olds stream the most, with Indian composer Pritam, American pop star Taylor Swift, Indian rapper Shubh, and Indian singer AP Dhillon rounding out the top five.

Spotify’s curated local playlists have also become a favorite for many listeners. For Gen Z, the top playlists streamed include Hot Hits Pakistan, Shaadi Hits, and Desi Hits. Millennials also gravitate toward Hot Hits Pakistan and Shaadi Hits, but their third-most-streamed playlist is Pakka Hit Hai.

Check out what Gen Zs in Pakistan have been grooving to late into the evening. Check out Hot Hits Pakistan.

Spotify Turns Up the Volume in Pakistan With Events and Music Campaigns

April 6, 2023

an artist performs on stage at a concert event

Two years ago, we introduced Spotify to listeners in Pakistan. Since the launch, we’ve worked with the country’s artists to expand their reach and share their music with new fans worldwide—and now we’re taking things to a new level.

March marked the first anniversary of our EQUAL women’s empowerment program in Pakistan, with singer Tina Sani as the Ambassador of the Month. RADAR, which highlights emerging artists from all around the world, also recently made its debut in Pakistan, featuring Taha G up first. He’s at the top of the RADAR Pakistan playlist, and Spotify worked with the singer to create a mini-documentary that spotlights his life and career.

In addition to bringing these programs to the region, we’re finding unique ways—from Masterclasses to cricket campaigns to local playlists—to connect with artists. 

Lending artists support with a Masterclass in Lahore

Our music industry experts were ready to share their knowledge during a Spotify for Artists Masterclass event in Lahore, PK. “We hosted at the historical Haveli Barood Khana mansion, and used this opportunity to educate and share information on music streaming trends and new product features with the burgeoning music industry in the region,” shared Khan FM, Artist and Label Partnerships Manager for Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Renowned Coke Studio music producer, curator and artist Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan shared his perspective on the Pakistani music industry with an audience that included more than 150 artists and their teams. 

Making Spotify’s Exclusive Content Inclusive to Creators and Listeners

August 19, 2021

At Spotify, we are committed to creating an array of podcasts that engage, inspire, and inform our listeners and can be streamed wherever and whenever, for free. Streaming podcasts isn’t just for your entertainment, however; streaming also provides greater insights for our creators, helping them see what is resonating with audiences. These valuable insights, only available thanks to streaming, allow us to create better shows and help you discover more shows. We are able to suggest and introduce you to programming we think you’ll like based on your listening, from podcasts to music and more.

We want to acknowledge that some have pointed out to us that their favorite Spotify-produced podcasts have disappeared from their usual podcast feeds. Therefore, we wanted to take the time to explain where and why these changes have been made, and we hope it brings clarity and a window into our podcasting strategy.

To enhance our discovery and editorial prowess, in the last few months we’ve brought some of our shows exclusively to Spotify. What does that mean? Shows like Serial Killers, Horoscope Today, Motherhacker, and How to Save a Planet will still be available for free, but only on Spotify. Many podcast enthusiasts have found some of their favorite podcasts through our popular playlists powered by your algorithmic listening, like Your Daily Drive, or through our playlists where our expert Spotify editors have personally curated the best episodes.

It’s also important to point out what this change does not mean: that you have to pay to listen to Spotify-produced shows. You’ll still be able to listen to your favorite Spotify Originals for free on our platform.

Although this may require a shift in listening habits, we want to share more about why we are doing this. Spotify’s ultimate mission is to connect millions of creators to billions of listeners around the world and help those creators live off their art. We’re also invested in pushing the medium of audio forward by enabling greater creative freedom and driving the future of audio. 

By utilizing streaming technologies, we’ve been able to create new and innovative shows like The Get Up—a daily morning show that mixes pop culture conversation with a personalized playlist. At The Ringer, a Spotify studio, we recently produced a new type of show called Black Girl Songbook—a weekly production that celebrates a different Black artist per episode, mixing talk and commentary with full music tracks. This unique format, available only on Spotify, is also thanks to Spotify’s streaming technology and global catalogue of music.

We believe that streaming is the future of all audio listening and that our technology can provide the opportunity for the podcast ecosystem to grow, innovate, and ultimately create more opportunities for creators across the globe. It is also our priority to keep our world-class content both accessible and free to all users across the globe. 

Enjoy our content on Spotify through our Free or Premium services and help enhance the experience for all listeners. Check back for more about our upcoming slate of new shows and hear directly from our hosts via the Spotify: For the Record podcast and blog.

Dig Into Music Streaming in the Latest Episode of ‘Spotify: For the Record’

March 25, 2021

At Spotify, we believe artists deserve clarity when it comes to the economics of music streaming. That’s why last week we unveiled Loud & Clear, a new microsite that breaks down the players and process involved with the royalty system. 

Artists want the opportunity to make a living from their work. We want that, too: Although more artists than ever are finding success through streaming, we’re nowhere near done, and we’ll keep pushing to grow the industry. As we make those strides, the Loud & Clear site demystifies how the money flows while also sharing more context when it comes to streaming numbers and how they stack up on Spotify in 2020.

In this week’s episode of our podcast, Spotify: For the Record, we continue the conversation about streaming economics and Loud & Clear.

Our first guest is Sammy Andrews, CEO of Deviate Digital and a board member of the Music Managers Forum (MMF) in the UK, who discusses industry reaction to Loud & Clear and where she thinks we should go from here.

We also speak with Charlie Hellman, Spotify’s Head of Marketplace, who provides more context on Loud and Clear and details how more artists than ever are finding success in the music industry.  

Listen to “Loud and Clear: A New Conversation on Music Streaming.” 

Spotify Founder and CEO Daniel Ek Discusses the Economics of Music Streaming

March 18, 2021

Since its 2014 low, the music industry has grown by 44%, driven primarily by streaming revenues, which increased 500% over this same period. In 2020 alone, Spotify paid $5B+ and makes up about 20% of global recorded music industry revenue, more than any other streaming service. That number is massive on its own, and it doesn’t include the other music streaming services, or other sources of music revenue. 

Still, artists ask me all the time why they’re not making more money. If the music industry is generating so much, then where the hell is it going? These are fair questions. So, we’re launching a new site, Loud & Clear, to increase transparency and shed light on the complicated economics of music streaming. 

Streaming is thriving and has been key to helping more artists find a global audience. There are more artists than ever before. That’s awesome. It means new genres, more music crossing borders, and more artists finding new fans. It also means new artists joining Spotify every day, along with the entire history of music that came before them. More artists want to share their art, reach fans and earn a living from music. And it’s happening. 

From streaming on Spotify alone, we’re seeing growth from artists at all stages of their career: since 2017, the number of artists generating

    • more than $50K/yr is up 80%
    • more than $100K/yr is up 85%; 
    • and more than $1M/year is up 90%. 

Today, 57K artists now represent 90% of monthly streams on Spotify — a number that has quadrupled in just six years. This means that the number of the most listened to artists in the world is growing and more diverse.

Our goal is to help musicians that aspire to be, or are professional to make a living. It’s something we take seriously every day. Of course not every one of the millions of artists on Spotify have found the same success. That will never be true. Fans will ultimately decide who succeeds and thrives, but our focus remains clear: Continue to create more opportunities for more artists to reach more fans. 

We know we have much more work to do, but we’re confident in what we’ve built and the innovations we continue to deliver for artists and their fans. We’ll continue to empower the most talented artists in the world to turn their passion into a profession, grow the money paid to rights holders, diversify and expand the number of professional artists succeeding, and propel the music industry forward.

What’s New This Week in Spotify Podcasts

April 3, 2020

Welcome to This Week in Podcasts, where we share what’s new in the podcast world. Here you’ll find a roundup of series debuts, can’t-miss episodes, and so much more—all available to stream on Spotify. Whether you fancy yourself a content connoisseur or an audio amateur, you’re sure to discover something worth listening to. Keep scrolling to check out the latest and greatest in podcasts this week—including Amy Schumer Presents: 3 Girls, 1 Keith, Heavyweight, Kids & Family Podcast Hub.

What’s New This Week in Spotify Podcasts

March 27, 2020

Welcome to This Week in Podcasts, where we share what’s new in the podcast world. Here you’ll find a roundup of series debuts, can’t-miss episodes, and so much more—all available to stream on Spotify. Whether you fancy yourself a content connoisseur or an audio amateur, you’re sure to discover something worth listening to. Keep scrolling to check out the latest and greatest in podcasts this week—including Mom’s Basement, Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, and Where Should We Begin? With Esther Perel.

 

‘Cheer’s’ Monica Aldama and Andy Cosferent Take Us to the Mat and Behind the Music

March 12, 2020

Audiences have flipped for the Navarro College cheerleading team in Netflix’s new hit docuseries Cheer. At the heart of the show is Head Coach Monica Aldama, who prepares the team for the national title competition in Daytona, Florida through her fierce leadership. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without Assistant Coach Andy Cosferent. The pair’s ability to inspire excellent performances while also nurturing the team through the highs and lows of life is a sight to behold and one likely to tug at your heartstrings. 

We recently caught up with Monica and Andy for an inside look at life on Cheer. Read on to hear their take on the show, the role that music plays in cheerleading, and the team’s unique practice playlist.

Cheer has proven to be a massive success. Why do you think the show has resonated with so many viewers? 

I think there’s a few different reasons. One is the fact that some of these kids have overcome obstacles and struggles in their lives, and Cheer shows that your past doesn’t define you. You can overcome it. You can be successful if you put your mind to it and if you have a strong support system.

I think another really important reason is that Cheer illustrates that it doesn’t matter what country you come from, what color skin you have, or what your sexuality may be. As long as you come together as a team in a specific environment—as long as you have each other’s back—you become a family, and you can achieve anything. Because at the end of the day, we’re all in this together. And, like most things in this world, it’s about teamwork.

Throughout Season 1, you cheer with and without music. What role does music play in your competitions and tryouts?

We love the musical aspect of cheerleading. When we get to compete with music, it’s more entertaining.

When we do tryouts, however, we don’t use music because we look specifically for skills. I think a lot of people assume it’s like the movie Bring It On, where they press play on a song and do a little routine as their tryout. But it’s not really like that.

The phrase “mat talk” is used frequently on Cheer. For those who aren’t familiar with the term, how would you define it? Is there a song that exemplifies it? 

I’d say mat talk is giving your energy 100% to someone else in order to benefit them. Maybe someone is struggling or hurting, so I will yell and be extra happy for them. The energy they get will then get them through the routine, through life, anything that they’re struggling with on that particular day.

One song that’s been on our team playlist for quite a few years now is “Get It Ready” by DJ Jubilee, and it reminds me of mat talk. It’s so fun to listen to because it makes you have an extra little bit of energy. You just can’t help but dance when that song comes on, and it just puts everyone in a better mood.

What song would you say sums up your experience filming Cheer?

We would probably have to go with “Incredible” by Céline Dion. I think that every time we go somewhere—every time we go through an interview or an appearance—people ask, “How has your experience been?” Everybody looks at each other, and we all just pretty much say incredible.

Walk us through the process behind curating the team’s Spotify playlist.

Every year, we make a playlist that we can use to get ourselves mentally prepared, inspired, or pumped up, and that’s what we used for Spotify, too. The team members made it. Every individual picked their favorite song—some are hip-hop, some EDM, some rap. Meanwhile, others picked slower songs.

When we practice, we only listen to that playlist. We put it on shuffle, and no one is allowed to skip a song, because we want everybody to have the opportunity to listen to their favorite jam. Every individual has a different way of getting motivated, and I think each song, just like each team member, has something special.

Stream the Cheer team’s exclusive practice playlist, only on Spotify.