Happy Friday! We’re back! It’s a new year, and I am ready to deliver only the finest Spotify news week after week - right to your inbox.

I’m excited about what Spotify - the company - has up its sleeve this year. Maybe they’ll bring back Stations!

I’m also excited about taking this newsletter project to the next level … whatever that means. Thanks again for reading and supporting. Let’s have fun!

★ SPOTlight★

⭐️ The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ Is First Song to Pass 4 Billion Streams on Spotify

So, what does all of that mean? Between $15.5 million and $17.5 million in royalties for the sound recording, with another $4.5 million or so in publishing, depending on which figures (and which online royalty calculators) one uses. While some services pay more than others and calculations vary widely, Spotify pays generally pays between $.003 and $.004 per stream.

⭐️ Spotify and Delta Launch Docuseries Connecting Artists Across World

The inaugural episode of the “The Passport Sessions” is titled “From Miami to Medellín” and features songwriter Andy Clay (Guaynna, Chayanne, Anitta, Maluma) and Venezuelen-born American songwriter Maye taking off from Florida and touching down in Colombia to meet and collaborate with urbano artists Juan Duque and Aria Vega.

⭐️ Why Independent Spotify Curators Still Matter

In an age where listeners are overwhelmed by the endless choices that streaming offers, independent Spotify curators are adding a personal touch to the music landscape through non-algorithmic Spotify playlists.

⭐️ How Spotify’s Design System Goes Beyond Platforms

Design Manager Juli Sombat sheds light on how a need for more cohesion led Spotify’s design systems team to take a cross-platform approach to components.

⭐️ Spotify Reveals 2024 Artists-To-Watch List

It’s a new year, and that means it’s time to predict which artists will make their mark in 2024. Continuing our annual Artists To Watch campaign, we’ve expanded the list to feature even more artists across many more genres. 

🗣 Podcasts 🗣

• Joe Rogan Again Had Spotify’s No. 1 Podcast in 2023. Will He Reach a New Deal With the Streamer?

▶️ Playlists ▶️

• Spotify's 'Playlist in a Bottle' is back. Here's how to get it

🎧 Streams 🎧

• Spotify's most viral track in the US was released in 2001

• Taylor Swift made money off me on Spotify but I never streamed her music

• Elton John Celebrates "Rocket Man" Reaching 1 Billion Streams on Spotify

🎼 Spotify 4 Artists 🎼

• Spotify Tips Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers For 2024 Breakout

• Indie Guitarist shares Growth Hacks, How much 10M Spotify streams paid

• Spotify Has Officially Updated Its Royalty Model — What's Next?

• How Many Tracks Will Be Eliminated by Spotify’s 1,000-Play Minimum? Now We Have a Number

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

• How to Make Your Spotify Playlist in a Bottle

• How I spiced up the Spotify Windows app with a custom theme and extensions using the terminal (and you can too)

• Does Spotify Keep Pausing Randomly? Here's How to Fix It

• Spotify Keeps Crashing After Update on Android—How to Fix

🤖 Spot(ai)fy 🤖

• Spotify is testing AI-generated playlists

🖌 Design 🖌

• LLark: A Multimodal Foundation Model for Music

🔥 News 🔥

• Global interest in MENA artists growing fast, says Spotify

• Choice Hotels Campaign Targets TikTok and Spotify

• Is Spotify’s Direct Ticketing Initiative On the Rocks?

• "Wrapping" About Spotify

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

The Acid Queen Tina Turner

White Lightning And Wine Heart

If You Can't Get Me Off Your Mind Amp Fiddler

Frankie's First Affair Sade

After The Prince And The Showgirl Shivaree

Back Stabbers Elvis Costello, Vinyl on HBO

Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song) Daryl Hall & John Oates

Hey Julia Robert Palmer

Soul Sick Rob Thomas

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right Odetta

Filipino Box Spring Hog Tom Waits

📧 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! 😀