Hello and happy Friday! Thanks for reading the latest issue of the Spotify Newsletter.

Wow … Number 166. Love it. Onward to the big 200! Maybe someone at headquarters will send me a nice note. 😀

As you’ll see below, Spotify stock is hot - even after the layoffs rocked the company.

I own a handful of shares - bought on day 1 when they did the direct listing. So anytime the stock can get a boost I’m all agog.

I know next to nothing about how to properly invest, but I like to learn. Maybe this nice fella in the video - it’s not me, by the way! - has the right strategy. Or not. Or yes. Or know one really has the secret sauce, but I'm all for a solid tip or two.

This week has been quite bountiful with Spotify news. And I have happily rounded up all the best of the best.

I appreciate everyone who subscribes, from those who hopped aboard way back when, to the nice readers who signed up this week. I am extremely grateful that you choose to sign up and take a few minutes in your day to scan links about Spotify - plus a few songs thrown in also!

Have a great weekend!!

★In the SPOTlight★

⭐️ Spotify is officially testing an offline mix

Music streaming company Spotify is finally and officially testing a playlist that automatically downloads some of your recent favorites. It comes a couple of years after starting working on such a feature.

️⭐️ After acquiring Soundtrap in 2017, Spotify sells the music making platform back to its founders

Soundtrap, a cloud-based music creation platform, is set to become an independent company again after Spotify disclosed plans to sell the business back to its founders nearly six years after the acquisition.

⭐️ Grimes thinks Spotify should have a section for AI music

She also said she believes copyright "sucks": "I don't think art belongs to anyone"

⭐️ Believe, EMPIRE, Spotify, Amazon Music and more team up to form global task force ‘aimed at eradicating streaming fraud’

According to the media statement announcing the new initiative, ‘Music Fights Fraud’ represents “the first time all corners of the music industry have aligned as a united front to combat fraud in music streaming”.

🗣 Podcast Action 🗣

• As Spotify layoffs continue, the next phase for podcasting is quality over quantity

• Spotify Starts Masterclass For Podcasters

• 'Jets Country Podcast' Now Available on Spotify and Apple

• Spotify has allegedly given Meghan Markle and Prince Harry the boot by cancelling their lucrative contract with the streaming platform

🎧 The Playlist List 🎧

• Spotify launches My Top 5 BTS Songs feature in honor of the group's 10th anniversary

• John Fogerty’s ‘Fortunate Son’ joins Spotify’s Billions Club

⚽️ Spotify FC ⚽️

• Drake collabs, sneaker culture and Ronaldinho’s playlist… What Barcelona and Spotify have learned from one year of working together

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

• How to Use BTS x Spotify Feature to Rank Your Favorite BTS Songs for Their 10th Anniversary

• A simple guide to Understanding Spotify Analytics

• Spotle: How To Play The Wordle-Inspired Spotify Game

• Spotify Features Every Musician Should Know

🗒 Ek Notes 🗒

🤖 Spot(ai)fy 🤖

• You can now generate custom AI artwork for your playlists on Spotify

• Spotify CEO Daniel Ek says that AI “could be potentially huge for creativity”

🖌 Design Notes 🖌

• Spotify introduces new features to its enchanting Spotify Island

• Evolving Brands’ Measurement Experience With All-New Spotify Ad Analytics

💰 Spotify Stock 💰

• Spotify Stock Is Set to Explode

🔥 Extra News 🔥

• Fans Flock To Spotify House During CMA Fest 2023

• Spotify Brazil Expands Payment Methods With PIX

• Spotify fined $5.4m by Swedish privacy regulator

• Spotify Announces Splashy ‘Spotify Beach’ Event in the South of France

• WACL Partners with Spotify for Latest 'Outside Voice' Series

• Spotify confirms removal of ‘Glory to Hong Kong’ protest song, points to action by tune’s creator-distributor

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

Tighten Up James Brown

My Rival Steely Dan

Can't Get There From Here - Remastered R.E.M.

Good Thing Going (Going Gone) Frank Sinatra

Delirium Neko Case, k.d. lang, Laura Veirs

Time and a Word Yes

The Fitted Shirt Spoon

How She Threw It All Away The Style Council

Cormac McCarthy, a preeminent voice in American literature over the better part of the past half-century, died Tuesday at his home in Santa Fe, N.M..

The Road Nick Cave, Warren Ellis

Blood Trails - From "No Country for Old Men" The London Film Score Orchestra

Cowboy's Dream - Instrumental Suzie Katayama, Marty Stuart, Larry Paxton

📧 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! 😀