Hello and welcome to the latest issue of Spotify Newsletter. It’s been a week since we were gifted our Spotify Wrapped for 2021. I hope everyone has recovered from the joy and shock of the experience. Other services have rolled out similar, year-end reviews, but it’s no surprise Spotify remains king of the hill when it comes to delivering a glitzy, personalized report for our Year in Music.

Public interest seems to increase every year. There’s definitely an event vibe built in, with social media generating mega-buzz leading up to the release, followed by the online chatter and media commentary once we’ve sifted through our musical year in review. Lots of fun, ‘what does it all mean?,’ stories about the data, the artists, and our collective music/podcast consumption throughout the year.

Hard to believe the original version of Wrapped arrived back in 2015. After some tinkering in the Spotify workshop with the data, algorithms, marketing and design, a new and improved Wrapped was ready to step back into the music/media/culture spotlight and make a big splash.

Mission accomplished. Needless to say the year-in-review campaign has been a huge hit for Spotify - generating a wealth of hype that rides a massive wave of marketing wizardry that culminates on the big day — your very own Wrapped present. A Spotify gift to rediscover and share the music and podcasts that formed your personal soundtrack for the year.

Spotify Wrapped has now become an annual tradition.

And now… the news of the week.

★In the SPOTlight★

⭐️Spotify Wrapped, unwrapped

We strategically construct a certain perception of ourselves through snippets that, with the help of Spotify Wrapped and other algorithms, become increasingly refined.

⭐️ The art and science of Spotify Wrapped

Spotify has mastered the year-end look back.

⭐️ Global Head of Brand Design Rasmus Wangelin Explains the Creative Behind Spotify 2021 Wrapped

Spotify Wrapped: You eagerly anticipate its arrival. You swoon over the in-app experience. You share your results on your socials. You snicker when you see the ads during your commute. But do you know what goes into Wrapped’s unique visual identity each year?

⭐️ I’m all for staying in the ecosystem, but Spotify beats Apple Music

I’m stuck in Apple’s ecosystem, and I realize that its music service is very lacking when it comes to Spotify.

⭐️ Delta now offering free in-flight access to Spotify from your iPhone or iPad

This means that on Delta flights equipped with the company’s Viasat Wi-Fi, you can access Spotify for free on personal devices such as iPhones and iPads. You don’t even need to pay for the in-flight Wi-Fi. Just connect your device, then you’ll be granted access to Spotify for free.

🗣Podcast Action🗣

Halo Infinite: Memory Agent Is a Spotify-Exclusive Narrative Podcast That's Out Now

🎧The Playlist List🎧

Tinder makes it easier to see if you vibe with someone’s Spotify taste

AI DJ releases album on Spotify – and chats with fans too

🖌Design Notes🖌

A closer look at Spotify’s app design process

Spotify Wrapped is a design nightmare

Small but Mighty: Changes to the Now Playing Bar

🔥Even More Hot News Links🔥

The WTF genre from this year’s Spotify Wrapped, Dream SMP, reveals the service’s real motives

Could Spotify face $100 million-plus lawsuits over its comedy album faux pas?

Spotify for Artists platform made available in 16 additional languages

Spotify studied music merch and offers 6 key insights and actions

5 Ways To Connect With Your Friends On Spotify

Spotify’s Frequency Platform To Support Black Creatives Through First-Ever Song Shop Program

🎵New Adventures in Spotify🎵

Here Comes The Rain The Mavericks

Not Only Numb Gin Blossoms

Worried Eyes Eagle-Eye Cherry

Nanci Toad The Wet Sprocket

Love Will Work It Out Durand Jones & The Indications, Aaron Frazer

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!! 😀