Hello and welcome to issue #130 of the Spotify Newsletter!

** If ever there was an artist who deserved to have their streams boosted to the moon due to the news of their passing … it would be Loretta Lynn. Since the sad news of her death on Tuesday I have been hip deep into her amazing catalog. Might have to fire up a viewing of ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ this weekend as well. She’s reunited with Doolittle.

** Spotify is acquiring Kinzen, a startup that specializes in using machine learning to analyze content and report potentially harmful statements to human moderators. The big aim here is to help find misinformation in podcasts.

The word ‘misinformation’ is tricky because it means different things to different people. A lot depends on who is at the controls and what agenda is at play. I think we all want to weed out harmful content, but when it comes to ideas/opinions/analysis … things gets dicey.

One person’s misinformation, is another person’s regular, old information.

** Interesting opinion via The Verge this week from a writer who says that ‘Spotify’s app is getting cluttered and overleveraged.’ My biggest issue currently is getting comfy with the Home button and search bar at the top of the page (via browser).

He writes: ‘As the service has grown, it’s also sprawled.’

I won’t deny that the Spotify lawn party is getting crowded with activities, but I’m not having much trouble finding what I want, when I want it.

If the new audiobooks start to encroach on my Steely Dan playlist, then I might have to dial up the heat. But for now, full speed ahead.

But that Home button… I’m always looking left, when I need to be shifting my eyes/clicker north.

** Thanks for reading this week! Have a super weekend!

★In the SPOTlight★

🔥 Spotify acquires content moderation tech company Kinzen to address platform safety issues

At Spotify, Kinzen’s technology will be put to use to help the company better moderate podcasts and other audio using a combination of machine learning and human expertise — the latter which includes analysis from local academics and journalists, the company says.

🔥 Spotify keeps making it harder for me to listen to music

As the company explores new lines of business, Spotify’s app is getting cluttered and overleveraged

🔥 Spotify cancels 11 original podcasts, lays off under 5% of podcast staff

Over the next couple of months, podcasts leaving the platform include Gimlet’s “How to Save a Planet,” “Crime Show,” “Every Little Thing,” as well as Parcast’s “Medical Murders,” “Female Criminals,” “Crimes of Passion,” “Dictator,” “Mythology,” “Haunted Places” and “Urban Legends.”

🗣 Podcast Action 🗣

Spotify releases a new exclusive podcast hosted by Kim Kardashian

Alex Cooper’s ‘Call Her Daddy’ Hits No. 1 on Spotify Podcast Charts After Season 2 Premiere With Hailey Bieber

More Podcasts Taking-Off On Delta Flights As Part Of Airline’s Alliance With Spotify

Wattpad launches famous PH webnovel authors on Spotify podcasts

🎧 The Playlist List 🎧

Spotify's 'A Song for Every CMO' Returns for an Encore

Celebrate Latinx Heritage Month With New Playlist, De TODO

Spotify’s Latest Fresh Finds Class Delivers a New Wave of Independent Artists

Brazil’s Urban Culture Is Thriving—And So Is Its Music

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

How to update Spotify on any device

How to Add Shazam Tracks to Your Spotify or Apple Music Playlists

🖌 Design Notes 🖌

From Development to Real Users: How to Create a Web Performance Story

💰 Spotify Stock 💰

Cathie Wood Dropped $18M Stake In Spotify

🔥 Extra News 🔥

How Much Would Composers Earn Today On Spotify?

Meet Sundeep, A Visually Impaired Spotify Host & A Stand-Up Comedian

Spotify Is Riddled With Fake Streams — Or Is It?

How Spotify Has Changed the Way We Listen to Music

Diddy Isn’t Fond Of Apple And Spotify’s Rules For Releasing Music

The CEO of Royal Albert Hall Sees Little Threat From Spotify

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn

What Sundown Does To You Loretta Lynn

Take Me Home, Country Roads Loretta Lynn

Tell Mama Etta James

Bye Bye Love The Cars

Headstart For Happiness The Style Council

Texas Flood Stevie Ray Vaughan

I Am Train

Oo La La La Cheap Trick

Sour Girl Stone Temple Pilots

Rollo Tomasi The Sheepdogs

You Never Know Wilco

📧 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! 😀