Hello! It’s the first Friday in February and issue #147 of your Spotify Newsletter!

It was a humdinger of a week! Whew! Just look at that SPOTlight section directly below… One hot story after another!

I had to add a few extra stars!

Can you believe this weekly digest is free?! Ha-Ha! Feel free to upgrade to the weekly latte’ fund, and maybe the other ‘add a real awesome writer to write about Spotify’ jar — but I am pretty proud of all the news captured and curated each week.

And I love wrapping everything up into a nice, neat Substack package for everyone (who loves Spotify) to enjoy. I am very appreciative for all the support and notes I receive. And please…. if you have a suggestion, drop me a line.

Like I said, it was quite a busy week. Most notably, Spotify reached a major milestone: the first music streaming service to pass more than 200,000,000 paid subscribers.

I’m one! I’m in the data!

There have been layoffs and a reality check for the company’s adventures in podcasting, but still, Spotify’s latest financial results show subscribers are continuing to rise.

So we’ll carry on trying to focus on the light, and not the dark. And there’s always going to be some dark here and there.

I’m wrapping this up, Steely Dan in the background via my favorite streaming platform — Spotify.

Love it. Have a great day!

★In the SPOTlight★

⭐️ Spotify Hits 205 Million Paid Subscribers, Topping User Growth Targets for Q4 With Record Total Quarterly Gain

Spotify packed on 10 million Premium customers in the last three months of 2022 to stand at 205 million, topping its previous guidance. The growth of its paid subs, up 14% year over year, was “aided by promotional intake and household plans,” the company said.

⭐️ SuperFridayChart: Dedicated to the global Friday release day

Compiling all the New Music Friday playlists on Spotify into a weekly chart. The free helps artists and labels who are actively looking at NMF playlists on Friday, either to look at their own tracks, or to look at what are the trending tracks this week.

⭐️ My wishlist for Spotify improvements

Spotify’s podcast strategy has come under fire recently. Maybe they will focus on the music experience again? One can only hope. In any case, this a list of things that could be experimented with to improve the music experience of the service.

⭐️ Spotify Codes. It’s important to share your music…

It’s important to share your music everywhere, whether it’s social media artwork, or in this case, posters and flyers. Spotify Codes is a website that allows you to create scannable codes that anyone can scan using the Spotify app on their phone.

⭐️ Daniel Ek Promises New Focus on Efficiency in Spotify’s ‘Next Era’

The streaming platform emphasized its user growth and the importance of its reorganization during a call to discuss fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday.

⭐️ How ‘The Last of Us’ Revived Linda Ronstadt’s ‘Long Long Time,’ Which Is Now Up 4,900% in Spotify Streams

The song choice was made by executive producer and director Craig Mazin, but after his friend Seth Rudetsky suggested it. Mazin was looking for a song for the two characters to connect over.

😘 Extra Attention 😘

· Spotify’s test of a Friends tab on mobile hints at expanded social ambitions

🗣 Podcast Action 🗣

· As Dawn Ostroff Exits, Spotify Rethinks Rich Talent Deals

· Spotify partners with Curia on the Drag to create free podcasting studio

· Spotify’s First Bilingual Podcast, ‘La Cabina Telefónica,’ Highlights Latino Immigrants in the ’90s

· Journalist Louis Theroux Takes On His Dream Format in His New Spotify Exclusive Podcast

🎧 The Playlist List 🎧

· FC Barcelona’s Official Spotify Playlists Will Help You Get Hyped for Matchday

· Spotify Launches 'Women of Iran' Playlist

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

· How to Make a Spotify Blend Playlist on iPhone and Android

→ Ek Update ←

· Spotify founder Daniel Ek officially launches new startup — and this time, he’s taking on healthcare

· Did Spotify screw up? ‘No… and yes,’ says its CEO

🖌 Design Notes 🖌

· Profile Search: the secret metric that Spotify editors don’t want you to know

💰 Spotify Stock 💰

· Spotify shares pop after earnings show strong user growth

🔥 Extra News 🔥

· Drake Urges Spotify To Pay Artists 'Bonuses' After Historic 75B Streams Milestone

· Dr. Dre’s ‘The Chronic’ Celebrates 30th Anniversary, Returns To Streaming

· 10 controversial predictions for the music business in 2023

· 6 Spotify internship programmes uni students can join in summer 2023

· People can’t stop ‘Spotify snooping’ on friends, exes and crushes

· Growth and Wellness at the Heart of Spotify’s Employee Development Programs

· Spotify layoffs could spell trouble for the podcast industry

· Spotify's Newest 2023 Move is a Masterclass in Marketing. Here's Why, According to Research

· Enjoy Singapore Airlines’ Music On Spotify

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

Recurring Dream Crowded House

27 Jennifers Mike Doughty

Walk Out to Winter Aztec Camera

Fall Upon Me Poi Dog Pondering

There Goes the Sun Pernice Brothers

Speed Dial No. 2 Zero 7, Sia

Love for Sale Fine Young Cannibals

Sit Yourself Down Stephen Stills

September Baby Joseph Arthur

📧 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! 😀