Welcome to another installment of the Spotify Newsletter! Still a few ‘Spotify Wrapped’ articles out there, mixed with a nice selection of news for the week.

Perhaps the news highlight is that the audio giant decided to allow listeners to submit their star ratings of podcasts as part of a new feature rolling out. The latest feature from Team Spotify takes a page from the Apple playbook; they having used the star rating system for a number of years on apps and podcasts.

Speaking of podcasts…. late Thursday news broke that Spotify has acquired Whooshkaa, an Australia-based podcast technology platform whose core capability lets radio broadcasters convert their existing audio content into on-demand podcasts.

“Spotify believes the growth potential for digital audio is still largely untapped, according to Dawn Ostroff, the company’s chief content and advertising business officer.”

★In the SPOTlight★

⭐️ Spotify – King Of All Audio?

The audio revolution is upon us, and all the big players are scrambling for real estate. 

⭐️ Spotify Celebrates Wrapped With A Totally Normal Party for 2021

The event featured themed audio activations, aura readings from Mystic Michaela, groove-garnering DJs, and a performance from the one and only Gwen Stefani.

⭐️ Making Sense of Spotify Wrapped for Artists

How to make sense of the metrics offered up in the Spotify for Artists’ Wrapped annual stats program.

⭐️ Spotify’s latest purchase is about becoming the place you listen to everything

Why it bought an audiobook company.

🗣Podcast Action🗣

Spotify Buys Podcast Tech Company Whooshkaa, Which Turns Radio Shows Into Podcasts

Spotify adds ratings to podcasts

🎧The Playlist List🎧

Spotify notched up 107.9bn hours of music listening in 2021

The Christmas Hits That Are Trending on Spotify This Season

Would you consider switching to Spotify just for the Wrapped feature?

🖌Design Notes🖌

Spotify Blend: Designing for a Social Listening Experience

🔥Even More Hot News Links🔥

Why Isn’t Garth Brooks on Spotify? Here’s What Garth Says

Spotify HiFi is still a no-show as the year winds down

The Spotify Unwrapped Playlist Might Be Missing a Key Part of the Human Consumer Experience

Spotify’s Frequency Platform is ‘Opening the Door For More Black Creators’ Through Its Ambassador Program & Song Shop

Intern who created Spotify’s ‘Wrapped’ feature says she never got credit

🎵New Adventures in Spotify🎵

Some of Shelly's Blues Michael Nesmith

Different Drum Michael Nesmith

Reflections The Jackson 5

Blue Letter - 2017 Remaster Fleetwood Mac

Sweet Greens & Blues Treetop Flyers

Golden Gates John Mellencamp

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!! 😀