Welcome to another edition of the Spotify Newsletter! Whereas last week was nothing too crazy for big news, this week has been quite spicy with what is being broadcast from headquarters… notably a ticketed virtual concert series, auto-transcribing for podcasts, new creative initiative and possibly a major dive into Hi-Fi.
★In the SPOTlight★
⭐️ Spotify launches a virtual concert series with The Black Keys and more
Rather than streaming straight from a venue, the service is taking the somewhat novel approach of letting the artist choose the spot for the pre-recorded show.
⭐️ Spotify expands into the audiobooks market by partnering with Storytel
The partnership is the first notable example of what’s possible with Spotify’s recently introduced Open Access Platform (OAP), which aims to give creators and publishers a way to extend their reach.
⭐️ Spotify HiFi launch could be imminent as user spots icon in iOS app
A Reddit user was able to find the Spotify HiFi menu in a song in its iOS app, which could indicate the new subscription tier could be launching soon. This finding happened as Apple Music just announced its Lossless audio quality with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio support coming in June.
⭐️ Spotify's Quickly Following in Netflix's Footsteps
Spotify's latest podcast deal echoes a strategy Netflix used last decade.
⭐️ Spotify Launches Frequency, a New Initiative Aimed at Amplifying Black Voices
Spotify announced Tuesday its intention to invest in and amplify Black voices by launching Frequency, an initiative aimed at celebrating established and emerging Black artists and fostering community and culture in the realms of fashion, tech and business as well as music.
⭐️ Daniel Ek bid $2.5 billion to buy Arsenal Football Club – but its owners told him ‘we don’t need the money’
When Spotify boss Daniel Ek expressed his interest in purchasing the UK’s Arsenal Football Club in late April, the news was met with a dash of cynicism.
🗣Podcast Action🗣
Spotify to add automatic transcripts for its own Exclusive and Original podcasts
On Spotify, an Arranged Marriage Between Music and Podcasts
🎧The Playlist List🎧
5 Reasons Your Brand Needs Its Own Spotify Playlist
Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools Curates ‘Music By Daniel Hutchens’ Spotify Playlist
🔥Even More Hot News Links🔥
15 Years of Spotify: How the Streaming Giant Has Changed and Reinvented the Music Industry
SACEM announces new deal with Spotify
Spotify and YouTube Music will bring much needed offline tunes to Google’s Wear watches
How Salesforce, Spotify, and Okta are redesigning their offices after COVID-19
How To Add Your Own Music To Spotify
🎵New Adventures in Spotify🎵
Written by Mick Jones for Foreigner’s debut album, this already cool song was given a funky reading by the great Ben E. King & the Average White Band.
A favorite from John Mellencamp’s great ‘Scarecrow’ album.