Hello. Happy Friday. It’s another issue of the Spotify Newsletter! #119.

Thanks for reading!

Lots of news across the board; it seems every week there’s enough solid news (plus some minor tidbits) to fill up a newsletter review such as this one. Of course, some weeks hit red alert, and I’m required to harangue for 6-7 paragraphs. Darn you, Neil Young!

I’ve enjoyed all 119, and looking forward to 119 more.

Note: Joni Mitchell still missing from Spotify. Joni, it’s time! Bring it all back home to the Swedish steamer and let’s enjoy the music.

She’ll be back before the year is out - mark it!

Onward and upward.

★In the SPOTlight★

🔥 Spotify adds more artists to its Blend tool, allows fans to buy merch via the feature

With this newest update announced today, Blend includes even more artists, including The Chainsmokers, Lizzo and Post Malone. To Blend with one of these artists and purchase their merchandise, you can click the link the artist has shared to Blend with them.

🔥 Spotify, Netflix, and Aggregation

Spotify has, for the most part, acted like an Aggregator: the company has fought exclusives in the music business, kept its subscription prices as low as possible, and in the case of podcasts ensured its Anchor platform supports all podcast players.

🔥 What it Took to Scale Spotify’s Marketing Efforts

At Spotify, we’ve tried to uphold the tradition of running one major holiday marketing campaign at the end of each year. The campaigns typically run on various platforms such as the Spotify Homepage and the Premium page. 

🔥 Spotify, at its core, is a search engine. Most artists and labels don’t realize this

It took three years (from launching in 2008 to 2011) to acquire the content licenses that Spotify needed to stream everything from ABBA to Taylor Swift.

Without those licenses, there would be no Spotify.

🔥 Spotify Is Developing AI Tools To Hook Users On Music Creation

Spotify is forging ahead with its AI Music agenda, although no date for the launch of its suite of AI tools has yet been publicly disclosed.

To highlight what they’re up to, Spotify’s AI team, based in Paris, has developed Skygge, a duo with songwriter and producer Benoit Carre paired with an AI program developed by Pachet called the Flow Machine.

🗣 Podcast Action 🗣

Christina Ricci to Star as Harley Quinn in Next Podcast From Spotify, Warner Bros.

Discover the Pioneering Influence of Disco Singer Sylvester With Our New Podcast Series, ‘Sound Barrier’

The Younger Man podcast series now available on Spotify

🎧 The Playlist List 🎧

How to Know if a Song is Copyrighted on Spotify

Dragon Ball Z Finally Adds Original Soundtracks to Spotify

Lucy Dacus covers Cher hit 'Believe' for Spotify Singles series

🖌 Design Notes 🖌

Spotify's secret to developer effectiveness

💰 Spotify Stock 💰

Is it a Good Time to Increase Your Spotify Stake?

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

How to Recover Deleted Spotify Playlists

Do You Think Your Spotify Account Was Hacked? Here's How to Find Out

🔥 Hot News Links 🔥

Spotify expands FC Barcelona partnership in US

ESL Gaming Partners with Spotify for eSports Promotion

Davido joins Spotify's Billionaires Club

3 lessons in growing your online business, from leaders at Spotify and Calm

South Asian Creators Share Their Sounds and Culture on Spotify

Spotify and Gamers8 Combine Forces for an Unforgettable Esport Event

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - New Stereo Mix Genesis

River Of Deceit Mad Season

Labelled With Love Squeeze

Never Can Say Goodbye The Jackson 5

This Means Anything Paul Young

Black Sky The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Any Way You Want It Clem Snide, Eef Barzelay

Coming Down Again - Remastered The Rolling Stones

📧 Get in touch 📧

If you have a question, idea, request, or simply a desire to chat about Spotify, please email me at jeff.spotifynewsletter@gmail.com.

😀 Have a Nice Weekend! 😀