Welcome to Friday and another issue of the Spotify Newsletter. The big news of the week was the partnership between Spotify and Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona.

The Catalan giants and the Swedish audio behemoth connected on a mammoth sponsorship agreement that includes the Camp Nou stadium being rebranded as Spotify Camp Nou.

Arsenal fan here, but I am absolutely getting my hands on a new Spotify/Barcelona t-shirt.

Another key story appeared this week that the company is ‘drawing up plans to add blockchain technology and non-fungible tokens to its streaming service.’

A venture sure to be interesting as we witness a coming together of the crypto and music industries, and the potential of NFTs to boost artists’ earnings.

It pains me to even mention it, but it’s Spotify-related so might as well make note: An article popped up in Variety Thursday aimed at Daniel Ek. The writer penned a pathetic open-letter to Ek that touched on all the bullet points the anti-Spotify brigade have been screaming about lately. She didn’t get around to blaming Ek for insanely high gas prices in the U.S., but you get the point.

It could have been a decent article that focuses on larger issues facing the music business, but instead it’s peppered with a lot of, ‘you don’t think like me, so you’re an idiot,’ type of language that you always expect from people like this.

She’s not a Joe Rogan fan. Fine. But she spits on anyone who is. It’s this type of behavior that requires that she, and her article, be ignored.

I’m sorry I even read it!

Onward and upward!

★In the SPOTlight★

⭐️ Spotify buys naming rights on FC Barcelona’s massive stadium

Camp Nou, one of the most iconic soccer stadiums in the world, is being rebranded as Spotify Camp Nou as part of a sponsorship agreement with Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona that gives Spotify naming rights to the stadium.

Spotify’s name will also appear on the jerseys of both the men’s and women’s teams for the next four seasons starting in the 2022/23 season.

⭐️ Spotify draws up plans to join NFT digital collectibles craze

Spotify is recruiting people to work on early-stage Web3 projects, the report said, citing a pair of recent job postings. A Spotify spokesperson declined to comment on its NFT plans.

⭐️ Spotify subscriptions can now be bundled with Soundtrap's audio creation tool

The audio recording platform is now available with Spotify for $16.99 a month.

⭐️ Spotify adds access controls to collaborative playlists

You can also set those mixes to private.

⭐️ One year after Spotify entered Pakistan, musicians are cautiously optimistic

Pakistani artists have struggled to monetize their work. Some think the streaming platform has the power to fix what’s wrong with the industry.

🗣Podcast Action🗣

Thierry Henry Explains How Spotify’s Original Podcast ‘The Last Days of Maradona’ Will Touch Football Fans Around the World

Meghan Markle Podcast Coming to Spotify This Summer

The Dinner Table and PRESENTE—Spotify’s Newest Editorial Communities—Amplify Black and Latinx Podcasters 365 Days a Year

🎧The Playlist List🎧

Are super-short songs about to take off on Spotify?

Spotify Lets You Change the Order of Your Playlists. Here's How

‘The Batman’ soundtrack is getting some serious spins on Spotify

🖌Design Notes🖌

Barcelona's kits for the 2022/23 season have been 'leaked'

🔥Even More Hot News Links🔥

Spotify pulls support for in-car head unit integration just a few months after killing in-app ‘Car View’

Focused on Indian artists with eye on global stage: Spotify

Spotify’s EQUAL Festival Brings Together Outstanding Colombian Voices in an All-Female Lineup

🎵New Adventures in Spotify🎵

Out on the Tiles - Remaster Led Zeppelin

Sweet Painted Lady - Remastered 2014 Elton John

Lost Love Golden Smog

Casanova Levert

On the Border Al Stewart

Carry Me Ohio Sun Kil Moon

Green Shirt Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Alison Linda Ronstadt

We lost a damn fine actor this week. Thinking of William Hurt ….

Main Title John Barry

Ned John Barry

Have a Nice Weekend! 😀