Hello and happy Friday!

A good argument could be made that I just submit to the power of the Swift and make a special newsletter section just for Taylor Swift streaming news. Every week, another streaming record broken.

If you’ve been off the planet perhaps you didn’t know that Taylor Swift’s re-recorded 1989 album has made Spotify history in its first 24 hours of release.

Spotify announced that 1989 (Taylor’s Version), Swift’s 21-track album that arrived last week, is officially the most-streamed album in a single day in the streaming service’s history.

I, once again, was not counted towards those gazillions of streams.

I’m listening to Neko Case’s legendary Fox Confessor Brings the Flood right now, wishing millions of people were streaming her music billions of times. Yet, we are currently in a very specific musical moment, a very Taylor Swift moment.

And that’s cool. The moment won’t last forever, and while I don’t think her music has much staying power, I still applaud her mega success across the board.

I do think the music, separate from the pop culture madness, monstrous world tour and streaming success, escapes any serious inspection. Yet my opinion about her music is simply that - my opinion.

For the record, I do nod along when I hear ‘Shake It Off’!

We are in a glorious TS moment, and it’s fun to watch - even as I choose not to listen.

Have a terrific day!

★ SPOTlight★

⭐️ Spotify Taps Peso Pluma, Daft Punk for Merch Collection

Each week, a different artist will release a new merch package. Top streamers identified through Spotify’s Fans First program will get a first chance to buy items from the respective collections. Today, the streaming service kicked off with the release of Pluma’s merch line, which is inspired by Dia de los Muertos. Fans can access the line through Spotify’s merch hub, with an array of items including a hoodie inspired by La Catrina, long- and short-sleeved tees, and a Calavera bandana.

⭐️ Afrobeats' streaming success: Spotify's role in the journey of a billion streams

In an exclusive interview with Business Insider Africa, Gustav Gyllenhammar Spotify's VP, Markets & Subscriber Growth discusses Spotify's strategic entry into the Nigerian market, its substantial impact on Afrobeats and its aspirations for exponential growth in the African market.

⭐️ Tracknack is a New Spotify Add-on for Music Discovery

As most DJs and avid music fans can attest, staying current with new music releases demands significant time and dedication. Furthermore, discovering rising artists adds another layer of complexity. Tracknack automates this process, integrating smoothly into your Spotify listening routine. New releases are automatically curated into a personalized Spotify playlist, with notifications detailing why particular tracks have been chosen.

🗣 Podcasts 🗣

• Joe Rogan’s big Spotify decision

• The new, ‘efficient’ Spotify has a very different approach to podcasting

▶️ Playlists ▶️

• Scotify: 18 Spotify playlists full of music made in Scotland

🎧 Streams 🎧

• Taylor Swift sets Spotify streaming records with '1989 (Taylor's Version)'

• Jungkook from BTS breaks Spotify's billion-streams speed record

🎼 Spotify 4 Artists 🎼

• Spotify’s new royalty model requires a minimum number of streams before you can get paid

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

• Here's how to replace Taylor Swift songs with Taylor's Versions in your playlists

• Connect Ultimate Guitar to Your Spotify or YouTube to Find Tabs Instantly

• How to start a remote group session on Spotify

🤖 Spot(ai)fy 🤖

• Spotify’s Audiobook Odyssey: Riding the Wave of Generative AI

⚽️ Spotify FC ⚽️

• Future Spotify Camp Nou to have a memorial for FC Barcelona fans

⚡️ Ek Notes ⚡️

• Spotify CEO Daniel Ek is one of the biggest whiners in tech

🖌 Design 🖌

• Managing Software at Scale: Kelsey Hightower Talks with Niklas Gustavsson about Fleet

💰 Stock 💰

• Spotify's Profits Are Back. Is the Stock a Buy Now?

🔥 News 🔥

• Billboard releases royalty calculator for Spotify and Apple Music

• Spotify’s Royalty Model Tries To Keep Up With The Rapid Rise Of New Music

• Spotify Is Eating the Entire Music Business

• Inigo Quintero: How Did ‘Si No Estas’ Reach No. 1 Global on Spotify?

• How Artsy became the Spotify of the fine art world

• Spotify Invites You To Celebrate 100 Years of Disney

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

Among My Souvenirs Judy Garland

Margaret vs. Pauline Neko Case

Just Once Quincy Jones

I'll Never Turn My Back On You (Father's Words) Sananda Maitreya

Leave It Yes

Open Your Eyes - Remastered Lords Of The New Church

If Anyone Falls - 2016 Remaster Stevie Nicks

Dangerous Type The Cars

(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me Stanley Turrentine

📧 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! 😀