Tag: The Weeknd

1MILLION Dance Studio Cofounder Lia Kim Shares the Secrets of Her Success

November 9, 2022

As the cofounder of 1MILLION Dance Studio, Lia Kim is one of the most influential choreographers in the world. Lia’s dance routines have been foundational to the success of the studio, which continues to attract the best dancers and collaborate with the hottest brands and artists. 

But another key component of 1MILLION Dance Studio is the worldwide fan base of millions that it has cultivated through its YouTube videos. And earlier this year, the studio took another step forward with the launch of its official Spotify profile, which features tracks from its most popular videos along with curated playlists from its top instructors. 

For Lia—who has danced professionally since she was 12 and has personally choreographed performance routines for the likes of BoA, Girls’ Generation, and SUNMI—building community and making dance accessible for everyone is the part of 1MILLION Dance Studio that she values the most. It’s also why she and 1MILLION Dance Studio have set out across the world to host classes and workshops for dancers of all skill levels.

For the Record sat down with Lia to discuss what inspires her creatively, the power of community, and what she envisions for the future of dance.

Which Spotify feature interests you the most?

The social listening feature. The fact that listeners can share their music tastes through social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, is aligned with our mission. Allowing listeners to communicate with one another and enjoy songs together in real time is something I find very interesting. 

Dance trends seem to change over time. What is the new dance trend for 2022, and how is 1MILLION adopting this trend? 

In the past, I think that people preferred new songs. Right now, there’s a range of dance trends, like how retro songs are trendier than newer songs. Lately, we’ve been choreographing to songs from the ’80s and ’90s, or even the ’50s and ’60s. 

What do you think differentiates 1MILLION Dance Studio from other dance studios? 

We are not only a space for top dancers but also a space where we seek to popularize and globalize dance. Right now, 70% of our students are from other countries. Even at dance workshops that are held abroad, people see the 1MILLION brand and come to us. We’ve visited over 20 countries—including the United States, China, Japan, and France—and we dance with about 500 people during any given workshop. It’s really amazing to see people of different cultures who are speaking different languages all come together to communicate and heal through dance.

If you were to pick a music genre that embodies 1MILLION Dance Studio’s identity, what would it be?

Definitely hip-hop! Hip-hop sets new trends! 

What is your ultimate goal as the cofounder of 1MILLION Dance Studio? 

It’s very simple: We want to enrich lives through dance. I hope 1MILLION will become a space where people can just come by freely to dance in the way they would go out for a drink after work. It’s good to learn how to dance, but it’s even better if you can truly enjoy dancing. There’s no such thing as a bad dancer.  

Do you have anything you want to say to those who like dance but are afraid to try it?

Don’t be shy; just dance! I completely understand those who want to dance but are hesitant to. But just listen to your heart and body, and go for it!

Is there something special about K-Dance? 

Perfect synchronization. There’s no other country that can outperform Korea in terms of skill, technique, quality, or training. There is not a single mistake. I think that’s what makes K-Dance special. 

Are there any criteria for selecting songs to dance to?

I usually look for songs that have good beats, vocals, and melodies. I like artists such as Bruno Mars and The Weeknd. 

Do you have your own philosophy on dance?

Dance is all about confidence. Dancing isn’t difficult. It’s all about feeling the rhythm, immersing yourself in the song, and moving your body however you want. 

Where do you get your inspiration? Do you have a specific process when you prepare to choreograph?

I watch various videos—including movies—to get inspiration. I also study videos of other choreographers, and I sometimes watch the videos of 1MILLION’s beginner-level students and get new ideas from them.

I try not to put too much pressure on myself because choreographing a dance is something that needs to come from my inner self. I also listen to songs repeatedly to try and understand the songwriter’s message or intention, as well as carefully observe the artist’s habits and characteristics. When all of these things are integrated into the choreography, it feels much more natural to both the audience and dancers. 

Discover more from 1MILLION Dance Studio on its official Spotify profile, which includes Yoojung Lee’s Mystery Party playlist: 

 

Upgrade Your Travel With Our New Delta Experience

October 4, 2022

A man and a woman boarding a delta flight

Spotify and Delta are ready to make your next flight soar. In the past, we’ve shared exciting perks that come with the partnership between your favorite audio streaming service and airline. Now we’re taking these benefits to new heights.

We’re putting our own spin on the boarding process by curating the music that plays as you find your seat. The playlist will update monthly to include Delta customers’ favorites, so even frequent flyers will experience a fresh music rotation.

Before you recline your seat, take a look at the new music playlists featured in the seatback entertainment. Part of these offerings is our This is mixtape series, including The Weeknd’s mixtape, This is The Weeknd. We will continue to add artist “This is” mixtapes from a variety of genres, giving every traveler something to enjoy.

If you’re traveling with kiddos, you’ll want to check out three new podcasts available on Spotify’s Kids & Family hub in the Delta seatback entertainment. For the first time ever, Spotify will be taking over the audio section of the Delta Sky Kids hub with the podcasts Deep Blue Sea, Gardenkeeper Gus, and 100 Cinderellas: Bedtime Stories From Around The World—and keeping the family enthralled from wheels up to touchdown. 

And beginning this December, Spotify’s longest-running original content series, Spotify Singles, will appear on Delta flights wherever there’s seatback entertainment.

These new offerings are ways Spotify is hoping to improve your travel experience. Delta’s data shows that flyers frequently picked our Sleep mixtape or Relax & Unwind mixtape to soundtrack their flights. And when it comes to podcasts, storytime passes the time with Unexplained Mysteries, The Two Princes, and Mythology being the most-listened-to podcasts on flights around the globe.

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.

Spotify and ROSALÍA Invite Fans To Experience the Art of ‘MOTOMAMI’ With Temporary Tattoos

March 18, 2022

Since bursting onto the scene in 2017, ROSALÍA has become a worldwide phenomenon, racking up 3.4 billion streams thanks to singles like “MALAMENTE.” And she’s continued to gain momentum along the way, landing on playlists like Today’s Top Hits and Viva Latino. Her sound—an infectious mix of flamenco, urbano, and pop—has also earned her 22 million monthly listeners around the globe. That number includes not only fans in her native Spain, but also in Mexico, the United States, Argentina, France, and Italy, among other markets.

Today, ROSALÍA delivers her latest album, MOTOMAMI, notable as her most personal and confessional album yet. With hit singles such as “LA FAMA” (featuring The Weeknd) and “SAOKO” on the album, its title represents the contrasting sounds of the record that highlight two types of energy: moto and mami. 

To illustrate the dual moods of MOTOMAMI, Spotify and ROSALÍA have teamed up to create a bespoke film that visualizes the singer’s different sides through the creative use of temporary tattoos. As “SAOKO” plays, for example, a blacklight shines on a non-tattooed ROSALÍA, revealing the brightly colored temporary ink.

Giving fans the chance to get in on the fun, Spotify is also creating a two-day immersive experience March 25 and 26. Fans have the chance to meet up at a tattoo parlor in Mexico City, get the same temporary tattoos ROSALÍA wears in the film, listen to MOTOMAMI, and enjoy exclusive visuals created for the album.

 

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In addition to the film and in-person event, fans around the world might also notice ROSALÍA popping up on billboards in Times Square, downtown Los Angeles, Mexico City, Argentina, Spain, and Italy.

Spotify has loved ROSALÍA from the very start, and now that MOTOMAMI is here, we can’t wait to bring this unique experience to her fans.

Elevate Your GIF Game With GIPHY and Spotify’s New Music Feature

July 22, 2021

After searching GIPHY, an online database that contains billions of GIFs, stickers, and more, you’ve found it. You’ve spotted the perfect GIF. Now, it’s time to share it in your group chat so your friends can get a feel for your reaction—no words necessary.  

No matter how you pronounce it, GIFs are the ultimate visual metaphor. And now, thanks to a partnership with Spotify and GIPHY, music can be part of the equation. We’re teaming up with GIPHY to enable new Spotify-linked artist GIFs. When users click the GIF on the verified GIPHY artists’ pages, they’ll be taken directly to the featured artist’s Spotify page for a listening session. 

Artists Doja Cat, The Weeknd, Post Malone, Nicki Minaj, The Kid LAROI, and Conan Gray have already kicked off the integration, with more to come.

Users around the globe can find the feature on verified GIPHY artist pages and they can be experienced through both GIPHY’s web and mobile platform. Here’s how it works:

  1. Search for artists’ GIFs on their official GIPHY channel via GIPHY.com or GIPHY’s mobile apps
  2. Once on the artist’s official GIPHY channel, click on the GIF you’d like to use
  3. Tap the “Listen on Spotify” button on any participating GIF
  4. Users will be taken directly to the artist’s Spotify page, where they can listen and discover even more music from artists they love

Ready to give it a try? Check out Doja Cat’s, The Weeknd’s, Post Malone’s, Nicki Minaj’s, The Kid LAROI’s, and Conan Gray’s verified GIPHY pages to see the integration in action.

Today’s Top Hits Is the World’s Destination for the Very Best in Music

June 24, 2021

Ed Sheeran. Ariana Grande. Kali Uchis. There’s one place fans go to find a mix of music from their favorite groundbreaking artists—and that’s Today’s Top Hits.

Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits (TTH) is the world’s biggest playlist. With over 28 million followers, it’s also the top destination for emerging and established artists across all genres to reach millions of fans and provide them with chart-topping, show-stopping songs each day. And TTH influences more than culture—it has helped kickstart the careers of many emerging artists—like The Kid Laroi, Tate McRae, and Conan Gray—and supported music favorites like Billie Eilish, SZA, and Juice WRLD. 

Today’s Top Hits is the leading global destination for popular music, supporting artists across all genres and bringing their music to a wider, global audience. As Spotify’s largest, most international playlist, we identified the opportunity to position Today’s Top Hits as our global music brand, complete with a distinct visual aesthetic and voice. The visual rebrand consists of a fresh, bold, colorful design, including a unique lockup with the TTH acronym, as well as a new brand tagline, “Hits Made Here.” The campaign, which centers around a 60-second video, “The Hit Station,” celebrates the breadth of artists and tracks that are defining culture today, including hitmakers like Billie Eilish, Travis Scott, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, and BLACKPINK.

“Today’s Top Hits is a true reflection of music culture today, as defined by the fans,” said Ned Monahan, Spotify’s Head of Global Hits. “So many factors go into the process of making a song a hit, and TTH has become a key catalyst and proving ground for a song reaching its full hit potential. Whether you’re emerging or established, no matter the genre—TTH gives artists the opportunity to connect with millions of fans across the globe, and fans a destination to support their favorite artist.”

Check out some notable TTH moments in this new style:

Today’s Top Hits has become so influential due to its diverse curation process, which supports various genres and artists beyond the traditional confines of how popular music has been defined in the past. It showcases the latest top hits driven by fans, combined with specially curated picks from editors who analyze music culture, data, and trends. Artists, industry professionals, and fans alike look to Today’s Top Hits as representative of what today’s music is—and what fans are listening to. 

Get to know the world’s top tracks. Stream Today’s Top Hits for the very best in music today.

The Most-Streamed Songs and Podcasts of Summer 2020

August 25, 2020

The summer of 2020 was unique from the start, with celebrations like Pride and music festivals like Notting Hill Carnival taking place virtually for the first time. But as always, people turned to music and podcasts as lively, consistent sources for comfort and entertainment, both in person and apart. And most notably, they turned to “ROCKSTAR” by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch, which soared to its spot as the most-streamed song of summer 2020.

With more than 380 million streams between June 1 and August 15, the track has been a mainstay on our global chart and is one of the year’s most-played songs on our flagship RapCaviar playlist. The track’s success is certainly not lost on DaBaby himself.

“I knew ROCKSTAR was going to be a hit while I was creating the record,” the rapper told Spotify. “But to watch the world make it into a global hit is an amazing feeling. God is great!”

Read on for more about the songs that dominated summer, plus, for the first time, the top podcasts. Finally, check out our new digital experience to help you feel some of the summer vibes you may have missed.

Sing along to the top songs of summer

Following DaBaby’s “Rockstar” is The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” which takes the slot for the second-most-streamed song this summer. It racked up just under 340 million streams between June 1 and August 15, and although it was released last November, it speaks to cities being “cold and empty.” In third place is SAINt JHN’s upbeat jam “Roses – Imanbek Remix,” which collected over 280 million streams and was added to many workout playlists.

Harry Styles infused plenty of flavor with “Watermelon Sugar,” which also landed in the top 5. Dua Lipa features twice in the top 20 with “Don’t Start Now” and “Break My Heart,” two tracks featured on the singer-songwriter’s album Future Nostalgia, which she released during quarantine. Ariana Grande also brought double trouble—in the best way possible—with her hit collaborations “Rain On Me” with Lady Gaga and “Stuck with U” with Justin Bieber. Scroll to see the full song list below. 

Get hooked on the top podcasts of summer 

It may have only launched three weeks ago, but that didn’t stop The Michelle Obama Podcast from becoming the top podcast of the summer with millions of listeners. The former first lady took to the mic to speak to listeners on topical themes such as identity, self-care, and family.  

Speaking of topical, listeners were clearly in the mood for plenty of news: NPR News Now and The Daily were the second- and third-most-popular podcasts based on number of listeners between June 1 and August 15. Other top shows include Call Her Daddy, TED Talks Daily, and Harry Potter At Home: Readings, as read by familiar voices like Daniel Radcliffe and Helena Bonham Carter. The mystery obsessed sunk their teeth into Crime Junkie, Last Podcast on the Left, and My Favorite Murder.

Dive into our new digital experience

Didn’t get to take the summer vacation of your dreams this year? Get transported—digitally—to somewhere summery with our new immersive experience, Wish You Were Here. You’ll be able to enjoy some of the season’s biggest hits overlaid with those summer sounds you may have missed: think crashing waves, a sizzling barbeque, or a crackling campfire.

Spotify Refreshes Popular Playlist New Music Friday with Global Rebrand

February 21, 2020

Whether you’re a music fan or an artist, Fridays are about to get even better. Today, Spotify’s highly influential New Music Friday playlist—a curated selection of the most anticipated new tracks of the week—is debuting a global rebrand.

The revamped playlist, which has 43 versions worldwide, will continue to serve as the leading destination for listeners who want to discover new music from both established and emerging talent. With over 3.5 million followers in the U.S. and 8 million globally, it’s an achievement and milestone for artists to have their new tracks included on the list.

With today’s visual relaunch, Spotify is continuing to support its ongoing investment in the must-hear playlist brand, with a major social campaign, New York and Los Angeles billboards, and new cover art. Inspired by a trend of artists making their own celebratory New Music Friday social media assets, Spotify For Artists will now test a new feature where all artists added to the U.S. version—to start—of New Music Friday will be able to grab and share a branded and personalized social asset a la Wrapped.