Hello and happy happy Friday!

Wrapping up 2022 on a high note as we close the year of the Spotify Newsletter with a delightful issue #142.

It was quite an exciting year for Spotify: From striking a sponsorship deal with FC Barcelona and diving further into audioboks, to numerous acquisitions, new video enhancements, platform changes and focusing on creator/user safety, there were no slow weeks in Spotify World.

There was also another stellar edition of Spotify Wrapped, which gets more popular and fun each year.

And I didn’t even mention the Joe Rogan / Neil Young / Free Speech / boycott nonsense that gifted me a good three weeks of content.

There was never a dull week of the newsletter.

It was another terrific year for listeners and creators, and I have had another wonderful year covering the audio giant, and its impact on the music business, technology and culture.

I’m ready for an exciting new year of the Spotify Newsletter!

Happy New Year! Thank you so very much for reading and supporting the newsletter!

May the New Year bring you and yours happiness, peace, and prosperity.

Wishing you a joyous 2023! 😀

— Jeff

★In the SPOTlight★

🔥 Spotify wants to help you ring in 2023 with its New Year’s Hub

Spotify has launched a New Year’s Hub to help its users ring in 2023, the streaming service announced on Thursday. The company says the one-stop destination gives users access to classic party playlists and special takeovers from artists like Charli XCX, Rita Ora, N-Dubz and Céline Dion.

🔥 17 of the main strategic moves made by Spotify in 2022

It’s not a ranking of importance: more a flow through the key narrative points of Spotify’s year.

🔥 2022 Saw Even More Advancements, Acquisitions, and Excitement at Spotify

Ring in 2023 by reliving Spotify’s highlights from 2022.

🔥 Spotify Exec Dawn Ostroff on Joe Rogan, Meghan, Podcast Cancelations

Exec cites taking "big swings" in podcasts and future opportunities: "Obviously podcasting for us is still a new business"

🔥 Spotify’s LA Studio Doors Are Open to Creators at Every Stage

Our hub in Los Angeles is a state-of-the-art music- and podcast-recording facility with doors opened wide to creators for audio innovation and celebration—and there’s something for every creator at every stage of their career. 

🔥 ’Tis the Season for Mariah Carey to Set Yet Another Record

Mariah Carey might not legally be the Queen of Christmas, but her reign over the festive season is undeniable. On December 24, she set yet another record with “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which is already the longest-running holiday No.1 song of all time. The hit track now also boasts the most single-day streams on Spotify’s global chart, having received 21.273 million streams this Christmas Eve.

🗣 Podcast Action 🗣

Understanding Fan Analytics: Luminate Execs Weigh In

🎧 The Playlist List 🎧

The story behind Māori Shed Party, Aotearoa’s greatest Spotify playlist

Queen’s "Bohemian Rhapsody" Exceeds Over Two Billion Streams on Spotify

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

How To Add The Spotify Widget To Your iPhone Lock Screen In iOS 16

🖌 Design Notes 🖌

Spotify Goes Backstage to Ramp Up its Open-source Contributions

8 Best Fixes for Podcasts Not Playing on Spotify on iPhone

💰 Spotify Stock 💰

Bull vs. Bear: Spotify

🔥 Extra News 🔥

Why 2023 will be a defining year for Spotify's ad business in India

An excruciating timeline of our six-year wait for Spotify HiFi

6 things Apple Music needs to steal from Spotify

What Music Did You Stream in 2022? Here's How to Find Your Recaps

Spotify For Artists now gives teams the ability to enable Two-Factor Authentication

Spotify and VICE Media joins in content partnership in Indonesia

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

Delirious - 2019 Remaster Prince

It's Only Love Bryan Adams, Tina Turner

People Get Ready The Chambers Brothers

Gotta Serve Somebody Bob Dylan

On My Way (feat. El DeBarge) PJ Morton, El DeBarge

Hot Love Wilson Pickett

Rouge Miles Davis

A Certain Girl Warren Zevon

Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine) Patti LaBelle

No Promises ICEHOUSE

Nights Like This After 7

Beyond Belief Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Ring Of Fire Tom Jones

That's the Way (I Like It) - 2004 Remaster KC & The Sunshine Band

📧 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! 😀