Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Spotify Newsletter. We thank you very much for reading and supporting us.

It was earnings week, where the audio giant reported that their premium subscriber base expanded to 165M.

During the quarter, the company launched a paid podcast subscription platform in the U.S. and announced exclusive licensing deals with Call Her Daddy and Armchair Expert. The company also unveiled 100 international Originals and Exclusives podcasts.

★In the SPOTlight★

⭐️ Spotify and music listening 10 years from now

July marks ten years since Spotify’s US launch. Although the tendency among some is to consider this ‘year zero’ for streaming (thus ignoring everything that had happened in prior years both within and outside of the US) it does present a useful opportunity to reflect on what the next decade might hold for Spotify. 

⭐️ Spotify’s paid subscribers hit 165M as podcast listening ‘improved modestly’

Spotify now has 165 million premium subscribers and 365 million monthly active users according to a new earnings report. It’s a year-over-year increase of 20 percent and 22 percent respectively, and up from the 158 million subscribers and 356 million MAUs seen last quarter.

Spotify’s interest in podcasts has showed no signs of slowing this quarter, as it’s continued to make acquisitions and investments in both podcasting content and technology.

⭐️ Spotify adds What’s New feed for all the music and podcasts you follow

The feed, which is rolling out globally over the coming weeks on iOS and Android, will be accessible via a new bell icon on the top right of the app’s home screen. A blue dot will show when there’s new content in the feed, and artists and podcasts can be added by tapping the “Follow” button on their respective pages.

⭐️ Spotify’s Clubhouse rival, Greenroom, tops 140K installs on iOS, 100K on Android

Spotify’s recently launched live audio app and Clubhouse rival, Spotify Greenroom, has a long road ahead of it if it wants to take on top social audio platforms like Clubhouse, Airtime, Spoon and others, not to mention those from top social networks, like Twitter and Facebook.

⭐️ Spotify, Giphy Partner to Make GIFs Sing

The idea behind this partnership is to connect people with artists through social media, texts, or wherever you share GIFs.

🗣Podcast Action🗣

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek does a podcast on the future of podcasts

Ivy Queen to Host Spotify Podcast Exploring the 'Inception' of Reggaetón

Spotify makes paid shows from Slate, Acast, and more playable from its app

🎧The Playlist List🎧

Eurovision winners Måneskin race to 50m listeners on Spotify

‘The Young and the Restless’ Launches Official Spotify Playlist

Virtual Characters Are Hitting Spotify Charts – More on the Metaverse

🔥Even More Hot News Links🔥

Spotify Upgrades Its Mini Player UI With Modern Look

How Millennials and Gen Zs Are Redefining Digital Audio

Which Artists “Won” the 2020–21 Lockdown on Spotify?

What it tells us about releasing new music

Spotify Today’s Top Fans: Here is how to find your most streamed artists and songs

Twitch Streamers Get Desperate, Turn to Spotify Syncing Extension to Avoid DMCA Strikes

🎵New Adventures in Spotify🎵

In honor of Joseph “Dusty” Hill, who sadly passed this week, we dive into the latest adventure with a few tracks from the great ZZ Top, the band Hill was part of for more than 50 years. 50 years! RIP Dusty.

FrancineZZ Top

Pan Am Highway BluesZZ Top

Sure Got Cold After the Rain FellZZ Top

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!! 😀