Hello and thanks for reading the latest issue of the Spotify Newsletter!

Let’s check on those second-quarter numbers: Spotify reported revenue above analysts' estimates on Wednesday, helped by a 14% jump in paying subscribers as more users listened to its podcasts, and the company forecast an upbeat current quarter.

Spotify is awesome. People love Spotify. Not Neil Young, but other, more well-adjusted folks who love music streaming.

Mr. Young’s music will be back on the streaming service before we flip the calendar to 2023. Joni Mitchell first, then Young. Book it!

Aside from the strong earning report there was plenty of news, specifically the demise of Car Thing: After less than a year of general sale, the company announced it had stopped making the dashboard accessory in its quarterly earnings report.

So that happened. Well, it kind of happened, and now it’s on the shelf.

In-car listening, along with audio tech for autos, is surely not going to be overlooked by Team Spotify. Lots of cars on the road, lots of drivers wanting to - easily - tap into their Spotify playlists - aside from the smartphone, of course, which you can plug in.

The name was silly. The marketing was nothing to crow about. The concept is fine, which is why I fully expect Spotify to pull out the car/streaming/device file sooner rather than later and jump back into the hardware/auto arena.

Lots of great news for the week. Happy to deliver in a neat digest on a Friday morning. Have a great day!

★In the SPOTlight★

🔥 Spotify’s subscribers rise to 188M

Spotify’s number of premium subscribers rose to 188 million in its second quarter, while its monthly active users (MAU) now sit at 433 million. That’s a year-over-year increase of 14 percent and 19 percent respectively, and compares to the 182 million and 422 million figures it announced last quarter.

🔥 Spotify has stopped making its Car Thing dashboard accessory

Car Thing had a bit of a weird release.

🔥 Ed Sheeran first artist to reach 100 million Spotify followers

Sheeran, 31, is by far the most popular artist on the streaming platform, substantially ahead of Ariana Grande (81.64 million followers), Billie Eilish (66.18 million), Drake (65.40 million) and Justin Bieber (63.49 million).

🔥 What’s Going On With the Hardcore Porn Images on Spotify?

There's porn on Spotify, but the platform doesn't allow it.

🔥 Spotify says Kate Bush streams jumped 9,000% thanks to ‘Stranger Things’ (and TikTok)

Spotify said that streams of Kate Bush’s 1985 single “Running Up That Hill” jumped 9,000% after the song was featured prominently in a new episode of Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” Netflix and Spotify collaborated on a playlist based on the hit show (which cost over $30 million per episode — yikes!), so it makes sense that Spotify would extoll the virtues of the British star.

🗣 Podcast Action 🗣

Spotify's Decode wins big at British Podcast Awards for debut series dissecting Dave's Psychodrama

Spotify amps up fiction podcast effort with new leader of scripted content

🎧 The Playlist List 🎧

Spotify’s new personalized playlist will recommend tracks based on what your friends are listening to

The Euphoria of Stumbling Upon Weird Spotify Cover Songs

“Various Artists” playlists explained

‘Remotion’ for Spotify is a new Mac app with SharePlay-like functionality

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

Spotify has a hidden feature for making music louder — here's how to enable it

How to See How Many Songs You Have on Spotify Playlist

This underrated Spotify feature makes your music sound better — how to turn it on

💰 Spotify Stock 💰

Once again, Spotify avoids Netflix’s woes: Music streamer added 6m net subscribers in Q2

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Says “Very Dire Macro Environment” Isn’t Stopping Company’s Momentum; Strong Subscriber Outlook Boosts Battered Stock

Morgan Stanley Bullish on Spotify

🖌 Design Notes 🖌

2023 Porsche Taycan Arrives With Updated User Interface, Spotify Integration

🔥 Hot News Links 🔥

Spotify forks out $295M for Findaway, Podsights, Chartable and Sonantic, filing reveals

Analysis: Why Spotify's 'Car Thing' was destined for the hardware graveyard

Spotify expands audio advertisements in HK with Httpool

Crestron DM NAX 8-Zone Streaming Amplifier Can Now Integrate Spotify

Get in Tune with The Women of Spotify’s EQUAL Program

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

Head First The Babys

Bondurant Women The Texas Gentlemen

I Don't Remember Peter Gabriel

The Fitted Shirt Spoon

Bitter Tears INXS

Still Out There Running Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Accidentally Like a Martyr - 2007 Remaster Warren Zevon

Talking Backwards Real Estate

Thank You for Sending Me an Angel - 2005 Remaster Talking Heads

📧 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! 😀