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Tag: Spotify

  • Read Spotify CEO's Email to Employees Announcing Layoffs | Entrepreneur

    Read Spotify CEO's Email to Employees Announcing Layoffs | Entrepreneur

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    This article originally appeared on Business Insider.

    Spotify is laying off about 17% of its workforce — or about 1500 employees.

    The music streaming giant said in a blog post Monday announcing the cuts that “being lean is not just an option but a necessity.”

    CEO Daniel Ek sent an email to his employees Monday with the same memo shared in the blog post. The email was sent at 1:01 a.m. ET, according to a time stamp on the email reviewed by Business Insider. That is 7:01 a.m. local time in Stockholm, Sweden, where Spotify is headquartered.

    “Economic growth has slowed dramatically and capital has become more expensive,” Ek said in the email and blog post. “Spotify is not an exception to these realities.”

    The memo said workers would receive a calendar invite from HR within two hours for one-on-one conversations and that meetings would occur before the end of the working day on Tuesday.

    “To be blunt, many smart, talented and hard-working people will be departing us,” Ek said in the memo.

    Spotify’s chief human resources officer, Katarina Berg, shared an FAQ document on the company’s internal platform Workplace minutes after Ek’s email, two employees told Business Insider.

    A screenshot of the document, shared with BI, showed it said that people laid off were selected based on: “a combination of factors including but not limited to organizational design, such as duplication of roles, streamlining layers to ensure efficiency, and optimizing our organization for the next chapter of Spotify.”

    The company did not specify what departments and teams were impacted by the layoffs, or across which geographical locations the cuts would happen. Spotify has offices across Europe, as well as in the US, Canada, Mexico, Israel, and India.

    Spotify said in its FAQ document that “ultimately, it was a Leadership decision” as to who would lose their job.

    It comes after Spotify axed about 600 employees in January and then a further 200 in June.

    Two Spotify employees, who did not wish to be identified, told BI that some employees expected the further layoffs were looming.

    The company shared a blog post in September titled “Unlocking Internal Mobility”, which said that internal mobility would be “taking a higher priority.” The workers said it signaled the cuts were to come.

    “There was also an internal memo about improving device security and specifically strict procedures around locking down laptops once employees leave the company a few weeks ago,” one worker told BI.

    The internal memo titled “Introducing new locking devices policy,” sent by its IT department on Workplace, also indicated the layoffs were coming, they said.

    Spotify declined to comment further when contacted by BI.

    Read the full email that Ek sent to employees:

    Team,

    Over the last two years, we’ve put significant emphasis on building Spotify into a truly great and sustainable business – one designed to achieve our goal of being the world’s leading audio company and one that will consistently drive profitability and growth into the future. While we’ve made worthy strides, as I’ve shared many times, we still have work to do. Economic growth has slowed dramatically and capital has become more expensive. Spotify is not an exception to these realities.

    This brings me to a decision that will mean a significant step change for our company. To align Spotify with our future goals and ensure we are right-sized for the challenges ahead, I have made the difficult decision to reduce our total headcount by approximately 17% across the company. I recognize this will impact a number of individuals who have made valuable contributions. To be blunt, many smart, talented and hard-working people will be departing us.

    For those leaving, we’re a better company because of your dedication and hard work. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. I hope you know that your contributions have impacted more than half a billion people and millions of artists, creators, and authors around the world in profound ways.

    I realize that for many, a reduction of this size will feel surprisingly large given the recent positive earnings report and our performance. We debated making smaller reductions throughout 2024 and 2025. Yet, considering the gap between our financial goal state and our current operational costs, I decided that a substantial action to rightsize our costs was the best option to accomplish our objectives. While I am convinced this is the right action for our company, I also understand it will be incredibly painful for our team.

    To understand this decision, I think it is important to assess Spotify with a clear, objective lens. In 2020 and 2021, we took advantage of the opportunity presented by lower-cost capital and invested significantly in team expansion, content enhancement, marketing, and new verticals. These investments generally worked, contributing to Spotify’s increased output and the platform’s robust growth this past year. However, we now find ourselves in a very different environment. And despite our efforts to reduce costs this past year, our cost structure for where we need to be is still too big.

    When we look back on 2022 and 2023, it has truly been impressive what we have accomplished. But, at the same time, the reality is much of this output was linked to having more resources. By most metrics, we were more productive but less efficient. We need to be both. While we have done some work to mitigate this challenge and become more efficient in 2023, we still have a ways to go before we are both productive and efficient. Today, we still have too many people dedicated to supporting work and even doing work around the work rather than contributing to opportunities with real impact. More people need to be focused on delivering for our key stakeholders – creators and consumers. In two words, we have to become relentlessly resourceful.

    I know you will all be anxious to hear the next steps about how this process will work. If you are an impacted employee, you will receive a calendar invite within the next two hours from HR for a one-on-one conversation. These meetings will take place before the end of the day on Tuesday, and while Katarina will provide more detail on all of the specifics, please know the following will apply to all of these bandmates:

    • Severance pay: We will start with a baseline for all employees, with the average employee receiving approximately five months of severance. This will be calculated based on local notice period requirements and employee tenure.

    • PTO: All accrued and unused vacation will be paid out to any departing employee.

    • Healthcare: We will continue to cover healthcare for employees during their severance period.

    • Immigration support: For employees whose immigration status is connected with their employment, HRBPs are working with each impacted individual in concert with our mobility team.

    • Career Support: All employees will be eligible for outplacement services for two months.

    For the team that will remain at Spotify, I know this decision will be difficult for many. Please know we are focused on treating our impacted colleagues with the respect and compassion they deserve.

    Looking Ahead

    The decision to reduce our team size is a hard but crucial step towards forging a stronger, more efficient Spotify for the future. But it also highlights that we need to change how we work. In Spotify’s early days, our success was hard won. We had limited resources and had to make the most of every asset. Our ingenuity and creativity were what set us apart. As we’ve grown, we’ve moved too far away from this core principle of resourcefulness.

    The Spotify of tomorrow must be defined by being relentlessly resourceful in the ways we operate, innovate, and tackle problems. This kind of resourcefulness transcends the basic definition – it’s about preparing for our next phase, where being lean is not just an option but a necessity.

    Embracing this leaner structure will also allow us to invest our profits more strategically back into the business. With a more targeted approach, every investment and initiative becomes more impactful, offering greater opportunities for success. This is not a step back; it’s a strategic reorientation. We’re still committed to investing and making bold bets, but now, with a more focused approach, ensuring Spotify’s continued profitability and ability to innovate. Lean doesn’t mean small ambitions; it means smarter, more impactful paths to achieve them.

    Today is a difficult but important day for the company. To be very clear, my commitment to our mission and belief in our ability to achieve it has never been stronger. I hope you will join me on Wednesday for Unplugged to discuss how we move forward together. A reduction of this size will make it necessary to change the way we work, and we will share much more about what this will mean in the days and weeks ahead. Just as 2023 marked a new chapter for us, so will 2024 as we build an even stronger Spotify.

    – Daniel

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    Jyoti Mann

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  • Spotify slashes 17% of jobs in third round of cuts this year

    Spotify slashes 17% of jobs in third round of cuts this year

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    Spotify is laying off 17% of its workforce in the popular music streaming service’s third round of layoffs this year.

    The cuts reflect the company’s efforts to adjust its workforce to sustain “profitability amid slowing economic growth,” Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said Monday in a letter to employees. The post didn’t specify how many employees would lose their jobs, but a spokesperson confirmed that it amounts to about 1,500 people.

    “Despite our efforts to reduce costs this past year, our cost structure for where we need to be is still too big,” Ek said in the letter. 

    The Stockholm, Sweden-based company had used cheap financing to expand its business and “invested significantly” in employees, content and marketing in 2020 and 2021, a time when many tech companies were ramping up their hiring, Spotify said in its blog post.

    But Ek indicated that the company was caught out as central banks started hiking interest rates last year, which can slow economic growth. Both are posing a challenge, he said.

    “We now find ourselves in a very different environment. And despite our efforts to reduce costs this past year, our cost structure for where we need to be is still too big,” he said.


    BuzzFeed news shutting down; Meta moves forward with layoffs

    05:05

    Third round of cuts

    This latest wave of layoffs marks Spotify’s third round of mass job cuts this year. In January, the firm slashed 6% of jobs, bringing its workforce to 9,200 employees. Just four months later, it cut another 2%, or 200 employees, mostly in its podcasting division. 

    Spotify has struggled to achieve profitability, posting a net loss this year of roughly $500 million for the nine months to September, despite growing its monthly active users to 574 million in the third quarter of 2023, the company’s financial statements show. 

    Spotify shares rose 14 points, or 7.5%, to $194.26 in morning trade Monday. Despite its financial losses, the company’s share price has more than doubled this year.

    A slew of major tech companies, including IBM, Snap, Google, Roku and Meta, among others, engaged in sweeping job cuts this year, reversing a hiring spree that surged during the pandemic as millions of Americans began working from home. 

    Microsoft in January announced a 5% reduction in its workforce, or about 11,000 workers across offices worldwide.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Elizabeth Napolitano


    elizabeth-napolitano-cbsmoneywatch.jpg

    Elizabeth Napolitano is a freelance reporter at CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and technology news. She also writes for CoinDesk. Before joining CBS, she interned at NBC News’ BizTech Unit and worked on the Associated Press’ web scraping team.

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  • It may be time to give up on music genres – National | Globalnews.ca

    It may be time to give up on music genres – National | Globalnews.ca

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    If you’re of a certain vintage, you’ll remember how inflexibly tribal music fans used to be. If you were, say, an alternative kid, you wouldn’t dream of listening to anything the rock kids were. It just wasn’t done.

    Admitting you liked the odd Black Sabbath or Van Halen song risked jeopardizing your relationship with the other alt kids. And because you were already known as someone who preferred Joy Division over Judas Priest, the rockers would have nothing to do with you. Might as well go die on an iceberg somewhere.

    There are still silos among music fans, but they’re nowhere near as rigidly peer-reviewed and enforced. In fact, I can’t remember ever seeing this much fluidity when it comes to music preferences.

    I started to notice this several years ago when I did some guest lecturing on Canadian music history at Toronto’s Humber College. To get a better idea of who I was talking to, I asked all the 20-somethings in the class to recite the last five songs they played on their phones. It was illuminating.

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    A typical playlist went like this: Drake, The Weeknd, AC/DC, Nicki Minaj, Led Zeppelin, Garth Brooks, Steve Aoki, the Beatles, Justin Bieber, The Cult, Arkells, Avicii. One male Humber student blew my mind when he said he was currently going through the discography of Billie Holiday — she died in 1959 — and the rest of the class nodded in approval.

    When I betrayed my surprise with body language and a confused facial expression, the class wanted to know what was wrong. I tried to explain that in my day, we picked a lane and stuck with it. They looked at me like Bart regards Grandpa Simpson.

    “Why compartmentalize music?” someone said. “If you do, you’re just limiting your options when it comes to finding your next favourite song.” I had to admit this kid had a point.

    Since that day in class, I’ve been fascinated by the growing worthlessness of emphasizing musical genres. Speaking generally, the post-Napster streaming generation doesn’t want to be locked into one style of music or another. All they care about is great music, regardless of age, era, sound, scene or vintage. With a few pokes at their phones, they have access to more than 100 million songs for a price that can drop to free. Why wouldn’t they want to roam the musical universe?

    There’s another overlooked role of technology. An album like Nirvana’s Nevermind remains relevant more than 32 years after its release. Sure, we can talk about its evergreen punk rock and grunge aesthetics but focus on the age of the record and, if you can, try to remember what older music you were listening to then.

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    Would you have been listening to songs that were 32 years old? That would mean listening to mono recordings of post-Elvis-in-the-army/pre-Beatles music. It sounded old in 1991 and sounds even older today. Yet Nevermind still sounds like it could have been released last week. Some might say this points to the stagnation and ossification of rock, but I have a different take.

    Starting in about 1969, newly equipped eight- and 16-track recording studio technology started to become available. Music got more complicated because it could, thanks to the magic of multi-tracking, overdubs and ever more sophisticated outboard processing gear.

    Mono records had but disappeared and we began to get full-frequency high-fidelity stereo albums and singles. A properly recorded album — think Abbey Road — sounds contemporary as far as audio quality goes. Here Comes the Sun has sonic attributes every bit as good as something recorded yesterday. Songs more than 50 years old don’t sound it.

    New data reinforces this. This is the time for Spotify Wrapped, the annual report card given to subscribers that summarizes all the songs they listened to over the last year. The company reports that users are more ecumenical than ever when it comes to their music consumption.

    Trending Now

    Instead of driving young streamers toward specific musical silos, genre tags — and Spotify has more than 6,000 of them (and growing) — are merely signs above an all-you-can-eat buffet that tells you something about what you might choose to eat.

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    Yes, yes, there are still musical tribes. We’ll never see the end of emo kids, goth followers and better-deal-than-mellow metal fans, but it wouldn’t surprise me to hear that even the current scenes with the strictest musical taste requirements offer far more latitude than what the original Lollapalooza generation had. (Speaking of which, have you seen the vast variety in Lollapalooza lineups over the last decade? I rest my case.)

    And genres still matter. Music-based radio stations pick formats and carefully curate material from specific areas of music. For example, you’ll never hear Tool on a station that specializes in current pop. This is because a radio station makes a promise to its audience that every time they tune in, they will be rewarded with the type of music they expect from the station.

    Want a different style of music? Hit the next preset. SiriusXM satellite radio is built on this pick-a-channel-for-specific-music approach. The difference is instead of bolting for a radio station operated by a rival company, SiriusXM can keep listeners in its very big sandbox by offering dozens of different music channels in one place.

    The idea of radio formats has been in place for decades. This method of programming continues to work very well, but I believe there’s a large market for stations that cater to the tastes and musical whims of millennials and gen-Zers — which, come to think of it, would mean a return to an old-style Top 40. Those OG stations sampled from everywhere: pop, rock, R&B, country, dance — whatever the biggest songs on all the different charts. Maybe it’s time we returned to that.

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    Hey, it seems to be working for the older demos and their classic hits stations. Tune in to a Jack, a Boom, a Bob, or a Fresh, and you’ll hear a wide selection of oldies (sorry, but that’s what they are) that might offer a segue from the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive right into Livin’ on a Prayer from Bon Jovi.

    Maybe it’s time we binned genres at least a little more. Like the kid in my class said, why limit yourself over labels? Respect all music, listen to what you want. Seems like the right thing to do, innit?

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    Alan Cross

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  • The Week's Hottest Gaming Takes, From GTA 6 To Starfield

    The Week's Hottest Gaming Takes, From GTA 6 To Starfield

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    The long awaited (official) debut of Grand Theft Auto 6 is nearly upon us, Starfield is shedding like a bad wig, and Coral Island has hunks in every direction.

    The Top 10 Most-Played Games On Steam Deck: October 2023 Edition

    These are the week’s most interesting perspectives on the wild, wonderful, and sometimes weird world of video game news.

    Why Is Starfield Hemorrhaging Active Players?

    Screenshot: Bethesda / Kotaku

    In the weeks following the launch of Skyrim developer Bethesda’s highly anticipated RPG Starfield, the game has caught a bit of attention for its plummeting player numbers on Steam. Its ranking from user reviews has also dropped on Valve’s digital storefront, falling from “Positive” into the pale orange of “Mixed.” Why is one of the biggest RPGs of the last few years seemingly falling out of favor with players so soon? Read More

    It Happened To Me: The GameStop Black Friday Deal From Hell

    Link and his Hyrule champions confront the better business bureau.

    Image: Nintendo

    One of my favorite Black Friday traditions is scrolling through GameStop on my phone and getting a bunch of cool games for cheap. Usually it works out just fine. Last weekend it was a nightmare. It’s hard to convey just how terrible navigating the experience of trying to buy something from GameStop has become in 2023, but I’m going to try. Read More

    New Disney Movie Wish Could Have Big Ramifications For Kingdom Hearts

    Asha is shown viewing various wishes given up by the citizens of Rosas.

    Image: Disney

    Wish, the 62nd film released by Walt Disney Animation Studios, is a bad movie. The film is meant to celebrate the studio’s 100th anniversary, but instead, its incoherent story and reliance on millennial cliches for cheap jokes come off like it was fed into an AI generator and spat out onto the big screen. And the music, always a staple in Disney films, has some really lovely parts that are sadly weighed down by terrible lyrics. Read More

    I Want To Smooch Every Man In This Disney-Inspired Farming Sim

    The cast of Coral Island hangs out on the beach.

    Image: Stairway Games / David Ardinaryas Lojaya

    Coral Island, the new farming and dating sim by Stairway Games, is the latest example of a game in which pursuing a handsome lad is enough to drag me through something I’m otherwise lukewarm on. I’ve spent chunks of my playtime chopping trees trying to make a real farm out of my designated plot of land. But I do not wish to chop trees, I simply wish to climb Coral Island’s residents like trees. Read More

    Baldur’s Gate 3’s New Ending Is The One It Deserves

    Shep raises his glass at camp.

    Screenshot: Larian Studios / Kotaku

    I don’t have a lot of complaints about Baldur’s Gate 3, but the original ending is probably my biggest issue with Larian Studios’ excellent RPG. Though I was content with the ways the story concluded, its rushed execution left me wanting more, which was even more readily apparent when I tried the game’s “evil” ending and it was about as fleshed out as an intrusive thought. Larian has been adding new content to the ending since launch, including a new scene dedicated to Karlach, but in Patch #5, the studio has created an entirely new epilogue that feels like the debrief the original game was missing. Read More

    Kotaku Asks: What Is The Best Video Game Sequel?

    An image shows Gordon Freeman and Alyx from Half-Life 2.

    Half-Life 2 (2004)
    Image: Valve

    I assume most of you reading this have played at least a few video game sequels in your life and while you might have enjoyed them all, this week at Kotaku we want to know: What do you think is the best video game sequel of all time? Read More

    Spotify Wrapped Has Us Minmaxing Music Like A Game

    Makoto Yuki puts on headphones with Spotify Wrapped cards in the background.

    Image: Atlus / Spotify / Kotaku

    It’s that time of year again. Today, November 29, Spotify users all over are sharing their year-end “Wrapped” recaps, which try to sum up your past year of musical taste by giving stats and rankings on your most-listened-to artists and songs, alongside a sleek graphic to share on all your socials. I look forward to it every year. But as Spotify Wrapped has practically become an internet holiday, I can’t help but notice that it’s gamified how we listen to music throughout the year. Read More

    Kotaku Asks: What Do You Want To See From GTA 6?

    A GTA VI image shows two people, a helmeted man (left) and a gun-wielding woman (right), against a blueish, palm tree-laden background.

    Image: Rockstar Games / Kotaku

    At long last, the GTA VI rumor mill can slow down. Rockstar Games officially announced the sequel in February 2022, but the studio just confirmed that a trailer for the long-awaited crime sim sequel will arrive on December 5. As we gear up for GTA VI‘s reveal, we at Kotaku have just one question: What do y’all want to see from the game? Read More

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  • Forget Horoscopes: Everyone Is Now Defined by Their Spotify Wrapped Sound Town

    Forget Horoscopes: Everyone Is Now Defined by Their Spotify Wrapped Sound Town

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    Three phone screens displaying graphics for Spotify Wrapped

    It’s the most wonderful/embarrassing time of the year for music lovers, as Spotify has released Spotify Wrapped 2023. It’s our yearly reminder of what songs and artists have been dominating our playlists and our earholes. Our music tastes have been collectively curated into a funky little slideshow we can share on social media. Whether we’re rocking Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, or endless repeats of the soundtrack from the Broadway musical Six (okay, that one is me), our music says a lot about us.

    But this year, Spotify Wrapped is throwing a new detail into the mix. In addition to their stats, users are being assigned “sound towns,” a.k.a. cities that share their taste in music. As soon as sound towns hit Spotify Wrapped, users began sharing their results on social media. But while 1,300 sound towns are available, many LGBTQ+ people have found themselves in one of three cities:  Burlington, Vermont; Berkeley, California; and Cambridge, Massachusetts. Queer website Them explored the phenomenon in their article, “Did Your Spotify Wrapped Place You In Burlington, Berkeley, or Cambridge? You May Be Gay“.

    Naturally, this led to the internet declaring that all three cities are now queer meccas. And once the internet decides something is queer (see: The Babadook), then it is QUEER TO STAY. So congratulations to future queer vacation destinations Burlington and Cambridge! Berkeley was already pretty queer, obviously.

    Many people took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their sound towns and to potentially plan upcoming queer communes in the areas (okay maybe that’s just me).

    (featured image: Spotify)

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’ is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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    Chelsea Steiner

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  • Does Bad Bunny Use Weed

    Does Bad Bunny Use Weed

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    For three years Bad Bunny has been the global money maker for Spotify, but he was recently dethroned by the juggernaut of Taylor Swift.  So while the Swiftees have changed the top spot, he still reigns at the King of Streaming. His appeal spans borders and languages with fans going wild at performances. With all the excitement, pressure and creativity, does Bad Bunny use weed and just kick back and chill?

    The Puerto Rican was born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in 1994, he started by singing in the choir.  A good boy who liked being home with his family, music became absorbed into his system. He started writing and creating his own interpretations at the age of 14. In 2016, his song “Diles” caught the attention of DJ Luian from SoundCloud. who signed him to his record label, Hear this Music. He has gone on to success after success.

    RELATED: People Who Use Weed Also Do More Of Another Fun Thing

    Living in the spotlight, Bad Bunny has had his share of good and negative headlines. But he has used his fame for good. He criticized the lack of humanitarian aid in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island of Puerto Rico.  He established the Good Bunny Foundation, which distributes toys to children living in poverty in Puerto Rico. In 2019, he was nominated for Telemundo’s inaugural Premios Tu Música Urbano, in the category of “Humanitarian Award of the Year.”

    Bad Bunny’s first radio hit in 2017 was “Krippy Kush” which is essentially about smoking weed and sharing it with women. Bad Bunny’s “Hoy Cobré” pays a little homage to Snoop Dogg. While vaping enter a store with a no-smoking policy, Bad Bunny puts up a fight and the security guard arrives played by Snoop Dogg.

    So does Bad Bunny use weed? It is reported he doesn’t use cannabis as often as he once did, He continues to have songs where he has mentions or alludes to cannabis, like Soy Peor, La Noche de Anoche, I Like It, Callaita, La Cartera, and more. Back in the day while rising to pop star fame, he was just as likely to be consuming weed as composing, playing video games or painting his nails. There can be a whiff of marijuana around him and his crew and local dispensaries benefit from his concert visits.

    RELATED: Does Gal Gadot Smoke Weed?

    He does use and chill, but with his continued growing popularity and empire, the guess is he works much more now.

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    Anthony Washington

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  • Taylor Swift was Spotify’s most-streamed artist in 2023. Here’s how to see Spotify Wrapped

    Taylor Swift was Spotify’s most-streamed artist in 2023. Here’s how to see Spotify Wrapped

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    Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film available to rent on demand on Dec. 13


    Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film available to rent on demand on Dec. 13

    00:20

    PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — It’s been anything but a cruel summer — or year — for Taylor Swift.

    Spotify Wrapped revealed Wednesday that Swift was the most-streamed artist globally in 2023, checking in with more than 26.1 billion streams since Jan. 1.

    Rounding out the top five are Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Drake and Peso Pluma.

    Swift’s songs “Cruel Summer” and “Anti-Hero” came in as the sixth and 10th most-streamed songs globally, respectively. Her album “Lover,” was the seventh most streamed album.

    It’s been quite the year for the Berks County native.

    Swift’s Eras Tour broke records, then the movie release broke AMC Theatres presale records — the film will be available to rent on demand beginning Dec. 13. She released two re-recorded albums — “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” and “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”

    The Year of Swift didn’t just take over the music world — Swift entered the sports sphere by entering a relationship with Travis Kelce, the brother of Eagles legend Jason Kelce.

    How to see Spotify wrapped 2023

    If you want to see how much Swift — or other artists — you listened to this year, here’s how to access your Spotify Wrapped.

    It’s the time of the year where Spotify users get to see what artists they spent the most time with over the past year — but there’s a new wrinkle for 2023. Spotify Wrapped will not be limited to just the mobile app for iOS and Android.

    Spotify said Wednesday that this year’s Wrapped will be available for the first time online at Spotify.com/Wrapped.

    Users on their phone should see an option on the top menu on the Spotify app that says “Wrapped” — it should be the last option on the menu where it says “all,” music,” podcasts” and “audiobooks.”

    Mobile users can also access Wrapped via the search section of the app — or even on the home screen. When users open the app, there will be a badge saying “Your 2023 Wrapped,” with a subtitle saying “Unwrap your listening highlights.”

    Tom Dougherty


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    Tom Dougherty is a digital content producer for CBS Philadelphia. Before joining CBS News Philadelphia, Tom covered the NHL and college sports for NBC Sports Philadelphia. He covers breaking news and sports.

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  • Your 2023 Spotify Wrapped Is Ready

    Your 2023 Spotify Wrapped Is Ready

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    Every year around December, excitement grows for reasons other than the holiday season. Yes, we all come together to celebrate the release of our
    Spotify Wrapped– and what a glorious, joyous time it is for many. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to expose which type of person you are: an Apple Music user or a Spotify user.

    Spotify Wrapped can teach you a lot about yourself and others. It reveals the top artists, albums, and songs both globally and in the United States, as well as your own individualized playlist filled with your top songs of the year. Mine, unsurprisingly is
    Noah Kahan (and he occupies four of my five top songs).

    It can remind you of songs you swore you only listened to once, and exposes you for the kind of listener you truly are. Somehow, One Direction was my top artist for years beyond their indefinite hiatus…some people never change!

    At the
    Spotify Wrapped 2023 event yesterday, we got the chance to answer all of your questions for this year’s Wrapped! Let’s dive in.

    When Can I See My Spotify Wrapped 2023?

    In one of the greatest rivalries of all time, Apple Music released their Wrapped dupe called Replay a day earlier than Spotify…but today, November 29, is when your
    2023 Spotify Wrapped graces the app.

    @trendpr Spotify Wrapped is trying some new things this year 👀 #2023spotifywrapped #spotifywrapped #2023wrapped ♬ My Love Mine All Mine – Mitski

    What’s New To Spotify Wrapped This Year?

    This year’s theme was “Wrapped, Or It Didn’t Happen.” In a world of
    AI, Spotify wanted to celebrate what’s real: embracing the real moments you experience through music. They wanted to encapsulate the year we’ve had as listeners, so we can appreciate the different cultures and sounds that have been brought to us.

    You’ll see more moving parts during the campaign, with bolder colors, bigger digital productions across the world. But there’s more to your Wrapped than just a special playlist based on your listening data. For the first time, you’ll be able to view it on your computer as well.

    One of the newest feature is Me, In 2023, where you’re assigned one of twelve listening personalities to tell you a bit more about yourself. For example, I’m an Alchemist, which means I create more playlists and listen to them more than the average user. This, obviously, is not shocking as I curate a
    Weekend Playlist for this website.

    There’s also SoundTown, which matches you to a city where you’ll likely meet people who have similar music taste to you. The excitement doesn’t stop there, you’ll be able to see which month you listened to your Top 5 Artists the most and use the Blend feature to see how you and your friends match up.

    Who Were The Top Artists and Albums In 2023?

    Global:

    Artists:

    1. Taylor Swift
    2. Bad Bunny
    3. The Weeknd
    4. Drake
    5. Peso Pluma

    Songs:

    1. “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
    2. “Kill Bill” by SZA
    3. “As It Was” by Harry Styles
    4. “Seven” by Jungkook and Latto
    5. “Ella Baila Sola” by Peso Pluma

    United States:

    Artists:

    1. Taylor Swift
    2. Drake
    3. Morgan Wallen
    4. The Weekend
    5. Bad Bunny

    Songs:

    1. “Last Night” by Morgan Wallen
    2. “Kill Bill” by SZA
    3. “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
    4. “Eslabon Armado” by Peso Pluma
    5. “Boys A Liar Pt. 2” by PinkPantheress and Ice Spice

    What Were The Top Albums Of 2023?

    Globally:

    1. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny (4.5 billion streams)
    2. Midnights by Taylor Swift
    3. S.O.S. by SZA
    4. Starboy by The Weeknd
    5. Mañana Sera Bonito by Karol G

    U.S.:

    1. One Thing At A Time by Morgan Wallen
    2. S.O.S. by SZA
    3. Midnights by Taylor Swift
    4. Heroes and Villains by Metro Boomin
    5. Dangerous by Morgan Wallen

    What Were The Top Podcasts?

    1. The Joe Rogan Experience
    2. Call Her Daddy
    3. Huberman Lab
    4. Anything Goes With Emma Chamberlain
    5. On Purpose With Jay Shetty

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Google admits Spotify pays no Play Store fees because of a secret deal | TechCrunch

    Google admits Spotify pays no Play Store fees because of a secret deal | TechCrunch

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    A Google executive said during a testimony in the Epic vs Google trial that a deal with Spotify allows the audio company to bypass Play Store fees, as reported by The Verge.

    Don Harrison, Google’s head of partnership, said that Spotify pays no fees when it processes its own payments and pays a measly 4% fee when Google processes them, the publication noted. He also said that both companies have committed to put $50 million each in a “success fund.”

    The details surfaced today after Google requested the court to keep the specifics of its deal with Spotify sealed earlier in the month.

    Google typically takes a 15% cut on subscription apps. This fee could be reduced to 11% due to programs like user choice billing, which allows developers to use their own or third-party payment solutions.

    “A small number of developers that invest more directly in Android and Play may have different service fees as part of a broader partnership that includes substantial financial investments and product integrations across different form factors. These key investment partnerships allow us to bring more users to Android and Play by continuously improving the experience for all users and creating new opportunities for all developers,” Google spokesperson Dan Jackson said in a statement.

    Google has tried to strike similar Play Store deals with large companies as well. Earlier this month, The Verge reported that the search giant offered Netflix a deal in 2017 to just pay a 10% fee on Play Store for subscriptions. Netflix doesn’t allow users to buy subscriptions through the Android app at the moment.

    Last month, the Mountain View-based company reached a settlement with the Match Group to let the dating app giant use third-party billing solutions on the Play Store. Match Group’s rival Bumble was part of the user choice billing program pilot started in November 2022.

    Epic, however, rejected Google’s offers to adopt user choice billing and went to trial earlier this month. The trial has uncovered many details about Google Play Store’s inner workings. For example, in 2021, the company offered $197 million to Epic to bring Fortnite to the Play Store, but the gaming company refused the deal. Separately, Google has tried to strike multimillion-dollar deals with other game makers such as Activision Blizzard and Tencent’s Riot Games.

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    Ivan Mehta

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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

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    It’s a week before Thanksgiving, which means we have been thrust into the holiday season whether we were ready or not. While you’re gearing up to see your family and friends for your obligatory annual catch-up conversations, we need new music now more than ever. Because there are travels to be completed, and soothing is needed.

    And as I previously mentioned, it’s holiday season- which means many artists will be releasing holiday tracks to get you in the spirit. Compiling songs from Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist, the countless press releases flooding my email, and doing my own investigations, we have yet another week’s worth of new music ready!

    That’s right, I’ve got a fresh playlist of songs you didn’t know you needed in your life. Whether you have Friendsgivings to attend, clubs to dance in, or are just staying in on this lovely November Friday, there’s always a good time to find new tunes.

    We’ve got no time to spare, so let’s get listening!

    Lauren Spencer Smith- “Santa Baby” 

    Lauren Spencer Smith is one of the most exciting rising stars in pop music right now. She can spin any track into gold, whether it be a ballad, or a rock-inspired pop dance tune. Now, she’s here with a taste of the holidays for us with a rendition of “Santa Baby”- her clear, concise vocals are flawless, haunting, and flirty.

    She’s fully in holiday season…releasing a cover of “Hallelujah” earlier this month and releasing “Broke Christmas” alongside her “Santa Baby” cover. It begs the question: is there anything she can’t do?

    Sabrina Carpenter- fruitcake 


    Another woman in the music industry having a massive year is Sabrina Carpenter, who went viral on TikTok for her “Nonsense” outros on tour, both her own and opening for Taylor Swift. Coming off her fifth studio album with emails i can’t send in 2022, Carpenter is establishing herself as the “next big popstar.”

    She’s here with her holiday EP, fruitcake, with six festive songs that are uniquely Carpenter. You can get tired of the same old holiday cheer songs over and over, but Sabrina Carpenter’s fruitcake proves there’s still ground to be broken in the holiday song category.

    Jimmy Fallon, Meghan Trainor- “Wrap Me Up” 


    Jimmy Fallon and Meghan Trainor team up for a light-hearted track during the gifting season. Begging for you to “wrap me up” because she’s the “whole damn package”, you get the classic Meghan Trainor sound and vibe. Plus, any track adding Jimmy Fallon is guaranteed to be instantaneously exciting.

    What I love about Meghan Trainor’s music is that it truly is all about having fun and feeling your best. It’s an infectious, often viral method that gets everyone dancing whether they wanted to or not. “Wrap Me Up” is no exception , which is no surprise.

    Chloe Stroll, “Homesick” 


    Chloe Stroll is one of Popdust’s favorites for a good reason: she has an honest approach to making quality music that is both relatable and easy to listen to. Her new single, “Homesick”, is proof that she is willing to work hard to create these borderline perfect tracks and shows her growth as a new artist in the industry. She sings about yearning for someone’s love, being homesick for them.

    It’s a pop sound with synths and, of course, a hint of piano. It exhibits her vocal range and you can hear the emotion through each chorus as she launches in. If you need an introduction to Chloe Stroll, this is the song for you.

    Elle Darlington- “christmas is you”  

    Elle Darlington has a soulful, ethereal tone that is reminiscent of pop divas we know and love. You wonder if there is a note she can’t hit as she effortlessly glides through “christmas is you”. She delivers a dreamy bedroom pop Christmas song that makes you want to go out in the snow and romanticize your holiday season. Darlington says,

    “Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. This songreflects the thing I love most about Christmas – being with my family and friends. So many of my idols including Mariah & Ariana have been the soundtrack to my favorite festive memories; so it’s super exciting that ‘christmas is you’ could play a part in making those memories for other people.”

    DRAMA- “As I Am”  


    “As I Am” is the latest single off of DRAMA’s Til We Die EP that offers high energy and otherworldly sound, sending you straight to the club dance floor. Til We Die is one of DRAMA’s best bodies of work to date, and “As I Am” perfectly encapsulates all the album has to offer. It’s like stepping into a haze in the best way possible, listening feels like the ultimate escape.

    DRAMA delivers electronic R&B that includes thought-provoking lyrics and refreshing beats…melding into catchy club tracks that make you want to go out all night long. “As I Am” is a peek into a tortured love affair, masked by a celestial, entrancing sound.

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

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    It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve graced everyone with a new batch of fresh music…but like all inevitable things in life- love, loss, aging- I’m here again. Call me persistent, call me determined, call me relentless- I will not give up on finding new music worth listening to every single Friday.

    I am overtly excited to share all of these tracks, spanning all different genres to give you a little taste of everything…because what’s a good playlist if not all over the place? Riddled with exciting beats, refreshing sounds, and unique vocals, the first week of November is proving to be one of the best weeks we’ve had for music in a while.

    With your Spotify Wrapped being slowly curated, you can wait in anticipation by discovering all these new artists and songs! How convenient. You’re very welcome.

    We don’t have time to waste, so let’s get listening!

    Victoria Justice, Toby Gad- “Big Girls Don’t Cry” 

    Toby Gad is a collaborative genius- co-writing mega-hits like Beyonce’s “If I Were a Boy”, Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper”, and John Legend’s “All Of Me”. He’s working on re-creating his extensive repertoire by recording piano versions…his latest installment being Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, accompanied by famed singer-actress Victoria Justice.

    Justice’s strong vocals and ability to belt make her the perfect touch to Gad’s already iconic writing. When re-imagining music, you want to make it uniquely your own. Which is why Justice and Gad put such a refreshing, soothing approach on the song that makes it unlike anything you’ve heard before.

    Conan Gray- “Killing Me” 

    Conan Gray’s gentle tone yearns to move on in “Killing Me”, his latest track about being unable to move on from those relationships that are toxic. The hold they have on you remains, but you can’t seem to find any more redeemable qualities that keep you around. Those relationships feel like they’re killing you, and Conan Gray has a special way of putting it into words.

    “I wrote “killing me” while I was sick with the flu. It was a miserable time where I was both physically sick, but also super heartbroken over somebody. Hence, ‘you’re KILLING me.’ I think we all have those people who don’t treat us nearly well enough, but we just can’t seem to let them go. People who call you at 2AM, and who you know you shouldn’t pick up……but you do. “Killing Me” is for when you’re on your last limb begging this person to just please stop torturing your heart.”

    ericdoa- “dancinwitsomebawdy”

    At age 21, you wouldn’t expect ericdoa to be as experienced and talented at creating a hit track…but he is, and that’s what makes him a juggernaut in the hyperpop, rap scene. He blends genres into one that just makes sense, which “dancingwithsomebawdy” is an example of. The track gets us ready for a new album in the new year, “dancingwithsomebawdy” is both a thrill to listen to and a promise of what’s to come.

    “I missed a lot of childhood being in meetings, obsessing over trying to be this artist that I wanted to become,” he says. “I really lost the freeing, adolescent feeling of just creating whatever I wanted.”

    ROSIE- “It’s Not Christmas” 

    The first holiday song on our Weekend Playlists! It was inevitable, but ROSIE’s is a beautiful encapsulation of what it’s like to miss someone during the holiday season. We know it as a time of celebration and to be around family, but don’t often consider what it may be like for those missing a person. A pleasant reminder to stay positive, ROSIE delivers a heart-warming holiday track.

    “It’s Not Christmas” is about missing someone during the holiday season. Although this time of year is full of joy and magic for some, it can be extremely difficult for others, so I wrote a song for anyone who needs a reminder that’s it’s okay to be sad, even on Christmas!”

    Dax ft. Darius Rucker- “To Be A Man” 


    Nigerian-Canadian country rapper Dax has a way of molding country music into its own, special sound. Pairing up with hit country singer, Darius Rucker, makes “To Be A Man” even better thanks to his smooth sound that can complement anyone’s vocals. The track instantly went viral on Instagram, which makes sense due to its empowering, uplifting lyrics that hit home with any listener.

    It’s an introspective, honest track that encourages you to look inside and acknowledge when you need help as well. It’s a look into mental health, the struggles we go through, and what it means to “be a man.”

    Zoe Ko- Baby Teeth 


    When you listen to Zoe Ko’s EP, Baby Teeth, you’ll get notes of pop-rock princesses like Gwen Stefani during her No Doubt days, Olivia Rodrigo, and maybe even a hint of Paramore in there. You’ll hear her cutting edge, witty lyrics and lilting voice that hits every note just right, and want even more from her.

    Baby Teeth consists of five tracks to give you the perfect sampling of who Zoe Ko is as an artist: honest, funny, and edgy. In the world of Zoe Ko, there is something satisfying about the guitar riffs and confidence that exudes from this EP. She’s one to watch in the industry for sure.

    Sammy Virji- “If U Need It” 


    Sammy Virji is on fire lately, “If U Need It” is the perfect track to go out and dance to. It’s got the makings of a staple on your going out playlist: a hook that makes you want to sing, a beat that makes you want to dance, and the innovativeness to sound fresh and new every time you hear it. “If U Need It” has it all.

    Known for his risk-taking with his music, Sammy Virji is proving that he’s a name to be remembered in electronic dance music. We can’t wait to see what comes next, knowing that he delivers time after time.

    Joy (Anonymous)- Cult Classics 

    Joy Anonymous is here with their vital collection of tracks essential for a night on the dance floor. With all tracks technically (and cleverly) titled “JOY”, you’re getting what is considered Joy Anonymous to their core. It’s a bold mix of disco, house, soul, and classic EDM that works perfectly.

    “Cult Classics is the soundtrack of Joy Anonymous meetings over the past two years. It began in Imogen Heap’s house in Romford. Where we spent two weeks working with various friends and new collaborators to form the skeletons of what was to become the album you hear today. Then we took these sounds on tour and tested them out in meetings around the world, honing and developing the sound on the move. Joy Anonymous is a movement where people feel included and feel safe to share expression and emotion. We have tried to capture that in the sound, process, and delivery of this album.”

    Take That- “This Life” 

    Gearing up to release their ninth studio album as a band, Take That shares the second single from their upcoming album, Brand New Sun. “This Life” is a showcasing of Take That- their vocals, their band, and their production skills all display their expertise in the industry. It’s polished, well-rounded, and a sign that Take That has it all figured out.

    “It’s been a wonderful experience being back in the studio together making this record.It has that feeling of spreading your wings, letting out the old and bringing in the new” commented the band. ‘We’re incredibly proud of the new album – there’s a sense oftogetherness, whether that’s us coming back together as a band or people wantingconnection in their own lives. We’re excited for this new chapter!”

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

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    Every few weeks, I get the same text from one of my friends: “Jai, I need new music. I’m tired of my rotation of usual playlists.” And to be honest, a little sigh emits from my mouth every time…why? Because I have a Weekend Playlist article every. Single. Week.

    I compile all of the latest, greatest new songs that are featured on Apple Music and Spotify- covering the lesser known tunes to new Taylor Swift. Honestly, no one in my inner circle should be lost for new music because that means they’re not reading my articles and, subsequently, that would mean I need new friends.

    While your choice of streaming service may have curated playlists based on your music taste, and a plethora of other options to find music…it can be daunting, and time consuming, to go through everything and find the songs you truly want to add to your playlist. That’s where I come in.

    Each week is a different selection of songs, and I guarantee you you’ll come out of these articles with at least one new banger to play for your friends. A wide range of genres, artists, and sounds, the Weekend Playlist is meant to get you through these arduous weeks. The good news? There’s always another to look forward to.

    So, without wasting anymore of our precious time here, I’ve got a ton of music to share with you this week! Let’s get listening!

    Rosie Darling- “I’m Different Now” 

    With elements of Phoebe Bridgers, Rosie Darling has a soft, introspective voice that haunts and seeps into your soul. “I’m Different Now” exhibits her beautiful, delicate vocals and talks about the part of life where you are moving on from someone who no longer serves you. It’s looking back at a relationship that maybe wasn’t all you thought it was.

    “I’m Different Now” is about getting to the other side of a difficult relationship. What’s awesome is that even though healing is messy and scary, it paves the way for a more mature, more refined self to take the space of what once was. It is learning to sit with who you’re becoming despite knowing that your old self still lingers, almost like a ghost following you around.”

    Joe P- “Glass House” 

    Joe P has been teasing “Glass House” for a while now across social media platforms. Frequently called “Dinosaur Bones” by fans before the single was announced, “Glass House” was highly demanded…and Joe is finally answering their call. With “Glass House”, you get the classic electric guitar, alternative sound that he has spent time refining and perfecting. It’s about losing someone and finding pieces of them wherever you go, and it does not disappoint.

    “To me, this song is about the physical proof we leave behind in the wake of relationships,” says Joe P. “A lot of my friends talk about how they unfollow someone on socials because they don’t want to see them anymore. We have these little moments when we’re reminded of something/someone and that nostalgia can trick us into believing feelings still exist where they don’t.”

    Chelsea Cutler- Stellaria 

    Chelsea Cutler is our featured artist of the week with her third studio album: Stellaria. A reflection of life post-pandemic, Cutler tackles grappling with mental health and self-image, healing and love. She brings an honest approach to songwriting as she continues to grow as an artist, producer, and songwriter.

    “I had just turned 23 and COVID started. I was about to turn 26 by the time things felt more normal. It was like I fell asleep at 23 and woke up at 25, and the whole world was different. I spent a lot of time wondering, ‘Am I going to feel like myself again or a new iteration of myself?’ I tried to write a song to get reacquainted with myself and love this new person post-pandemic.”

    Lewis OfMan- “Frisco Blues” 

    If a song could be the end of the summer, it would be “Frisco Blues.” With a melancholic background track, you’ll find yourself reminiscing on old times, lost love, and the end of the season. Sampling “Frisco Disco,” all Lewis OfMan needed was an acoustic guitar to complete the track…and it’s perfect.

    “The song was inspired by a bus ride from Florence to Marseille in one day back in December 2021. We were driving across the south of France, the vibe in the bus was nice, students, kids playing cards, I was listening to an obscure Jim Morrison interview, watching the cold sunset on the hills, good spirit. A few days later I was in the countryside only with an acoustic guitar and an Ensoniq Sampler with this sample of a song called ‘Frisco Disco’ I’d found at A1 record in NYC.”

    Em Beihold- “Pedestal”

    One of both my favorite songs and artists on this list, Em Beihold delivers a cheeky breakup track centered around a ukulele sound. Her vocal range is unmatched, and her biting lyrics are contrasted by the light, acoustic-heavy track about moving on after putting someone on a pedestal for so long.

    “I’m so excited to be announcing my first ever headline tour and to also be dropping “Pedestal”this week,” says Em. “I’ve been touring “Pedestal” for a couple years now and it’s the last songof that era of music for me, so it feels full circle to announce a new beginning at the same timeas closing an old chapter. So much fun, truly 2024 couldn’t come any faster!”

    Blu DeTiger- “Cut Me Down”


    A fun upbeat collaboration between Blu DeTiger and Mallrat, “Cut Me Down” shows the difficult side of relationships. With lyrics like “every time you cut me down, I just laugh it off” and “I wonder who you think you are”, Blu DeTiger and Mallrat sing about being degraded and put down by someone who doesn’t value them. The synth-y, club beat in the background make this song suitable for nights out or long runs as well.

    “I feel like this song is a nice evolution for me and a side of me that people haven’t heard, but the soul-full chords and movement of the bassline anchor it in the Blu DeTiger sound. This is one of the most melodic and moving bass parts I’ve written, and it follows and supports the vocals in a really cool way.”

    Until The Ribbon Breaks- “Nature Mother” 

    Until The Ribbon Breaks has a soulful voice that punches into this track, an overview of our roles in society and in nature. It’s contemplative, pensive, and daunting all at the same time, combining complex metaphors with a soulful Hozier-esque tone. “Nature Mother” with Emoni Wilkins belting at the end is a masterpiece.

    “If there was a single lyric that encompassed the whole feeling that I have – and where I’ve been emotionally and why I even made this record – it’s that chorus. It specifically talks about our role in nature and our role to each other: ‘Wild is the wind. Rage is the sea. If it’s in me, it’s in me, it’s our nature mother.’

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

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    When I was younger, I knew of two ways to get music: the legal way, paying $0.99 (and then $1.25) for songs on iTunes, and the illegal way, paying $0 to download the pirated versions on Limewire…Don’t lie, you had your ways, too.

    Maybe I’m aging myself by saying social media wasn’t as prevalent as it was now…you couldn’t just go on Instagram and announce new music. That’s right, you’d have to do things like watch television and pay attention, like when Disney Channel would play music videos instead of commercials. It was prime MTV time, you know that line from Bowling For Soup’s hit song “1985”: “and music still on MTV?” That.

    Essentially, you’d rely on solely on search engines, iTunes, and the radio to get your news. How archaic. Back when “doom scrolling” meant checking your email incessantly for new messages from your friends.

    There was no Spotify or Apple Music to curate special playlists…only writers like me reviewing new tracks (that were often printed on CD’s…gasp). Can you believe we used to burn playlists onto CD’s and listen to them as our parents drove?

    Now, music is more accessible than ever. We have access to any song written ever, essentially. I mean, people are constantly even hacking into celebrity’s iClouds and releasing their unreleased tracks! (It’s not ethical, but you get my point.)

    There is no better time to be a fan of music than this era. Now, with apps like Spotify, you can get a monthly subscription to listen to unlimited, commercial-free music with specially picked playlists geared towards your music taste and access to pre-sales for your favorite artist’s shows. The music world is truly at our fingertips.

    And that’s where I come in! I pick the best music that comes out every Friday across the board so you don’t have to comb through all of the new music playlists and feel lost. If you want your weekend to get a little easier, let’s get listening.

    Noah Kahan, Kacey Musgraves- “She Calls Me Back”

    At this point, Noah Kahan is just completing side quests. Whether it be performing onstage with Hozier, releasing collabs with Post Malone, Lizzy McAlpine, Zach Bryan, or most recently Kacey Musgraves, Noah’s been busy. This week’s newest duet is with Musgraves, who shows the other side of Kahan’s hit song “She Calls Me Back.” Musgraves’ melodic voice adds the perfect touch to this song filled with yearning.

    James Arthur- “Just Us” 

    What James Arthur can do to a song is unmatched. He’s the mastermind behind a heart-aching, soul-grasping ballad that will top the radio for weeks on end. An instantaneous creator of classics, James Arthur releases “Just Us”, ahead of his new album Bitter Sweet Love. It follows singles like “Blindside” and “A Year Ago”, “Just Us” is a reminder to focus on what’s really important.

    “‘Just Us’ is a song in which I confess to running away from what really matters and getting lost in the pursuit of validation from external things,” James explains. “It’s about chasing a hedonistic, hollow life. Realizing the true meaning of life which is of course about true love, loving ourselves, our families and our communities and being there for them.”

    Dom Dolla- “Saving Up” 


    Dom Dolla is one of the most exciting names in the electric dance community right now. With the mega-hit “Rhyme Dust” featuring the iconic MK out earlier this year, we got a sense of how Dom Dolla can produce any sort of dance music- regardless of if it’s house, disco, or anything in between. Now, with “Saving Up”, you have the perfect disco-inspired song to get you through the weekend. It’s a promising reminder that anything Dom touches is a banger.

    “I was in the UK last year after a massive summer of touring when I caught the train down to Brighton with some friends and ended up in an incredible studio overlooking the beach. I was missing home a bit, but felt really inspired and wanted to write a feel-good record, reminding myself of the importance of saving time for the ones I care about and love. Whilst (in the studio) overlooking the same site Fatboy Slim hosted his ‘Big Beach Boutique’, I was thinking about the UK’s dance music history and it inspired me so I decided to lean into the idea of writing something that sounds sampled, but isn’t. I often like to write records completely on my own, but it feels so perfect to have written this one alongside some good pals, Clementine Douglas, Caitlin Stubbs & Toby Scott.”

    Joel Corry- Another Friday Night 

    Another heavy-hitter in the EDM community is Joel Corry, who has a proven track record of solidified hits with songs like “Lonely”, “0800 Heaven”, “Head & Heart.” He’s produced songs that are the soundtrack to many nights out, and now he’s here with his debut album, Another Friday Night, just in time for the weekend. It’s one of the most highly anticipated dance albums of the year, with Corry’s uncanny ability to make a song everyone likes.

    Claire Rosinkranz- Just Because

    Claire Rosinkranz isn’t our featured artist of the week “just because”, it’s due to the fact that she’s released her debut album, Just Because. Rosinkranz is a young, dynamic artist who encapsulates the sound of surf and Southern California through picturesque music and retro inspiration. After being discovered at age 16, Rosinkranz has since taken the world by storm with her aptitude for songwriting and her fortifying vocal range.

    Just Because is highlighted by key single tracks like “Wes Anderson”, where Rosinkranz encourages the listener to get over their breakup…and “Swinging at the Stars”, more of an optimistic love anthem with an anticipated accompanying music video featuring a very special guest. It’s a no-skips, must-not-miss album.

    Chloe Stroll- “Hurricane” 

    No stranger to our featured artists lineup, Chloe Stroll is a Popdust fave. After debuting her music career earlier this year (and exclusively speaking with us on the matter), Chloe Stroll is not backing down. Her newest release, “Hurricane”, is a testimony to being loyal to the ones you love.

    One of the most admirable parts of Stroll’s music is that she is staying true to herself, and writing from a genuine place in her heart…which translates to the listener over time. “Hurricane” is an easy listen when you pair her voice with true, sincere lyrics.

    Neil Frances, DRAMA- “Energy”

    A fun-filled track meant for the dance floor, “Energy” is the product of when artists are able to combine their sounds seamlessly. It doesn’t always work, but “Energy” brings a genuine sense of excitement and makes you want to stay out dancing all weekend long.

    “Working with Neil Frances is fun. We’ve been jamming to their tunes for years, and when we teamed up, it was like a lightbulb moment. You know how it is when you work with strangers – it can be hit or miss. But with these guys, it’s a total breath of fresh air! We see a lot of ourselves in them which makes it very easy to create together. There is no pressure to conform or do things the “right” way. We’re just having fun and doing whatever it takes to take our music to the next level.”

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Spotify CEO Hints That Meghan Markle’s ‘Archetypes’ Podcast Was Cancelled Because It Didn’t Work

    Spotify CEO Hints That Meghan Markle’s ‘Archetypes’ Podcast Was Cancelled Because It Didn’t Work

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    By ETCanada.com Staff.
    Published:

    Spotify chose to cancel Meghan Markle’s “Archetypes” podcast after just one season, and the company’s CEO is now hinting at the reason.

    Speaking with BBC News, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek discussed the companies struggles in podcasting, which included severing the $25 million deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

    “The truth of the matter is some of it has worked, some of it hasn’t,” Elk said. “We’re learning from those and we are moving on,” he added, as reported by Page Six.


    READ MORE:
    Meghan Markle ‘Was Not A Great Audio Talent’ Says UTA CEO Following ‘Archetypes’ Podcast Cancellation

    Clearly, “Archetypes” was one that didn’t work, and he explained of his vision as Spotify becoming a platform for podcasters.

    “We thought we can come in and offer a great experience that both makes consumers very happy and allows new creators new avenues.”

    Without mentioning the Sussexes by name, they were lumped in with the other failed podcasts that Spotify chose to dump.


    READ MORE:
    Podcaster Bill Simmons Blasts Harry & Meghan After Spotify Axes $20M Deal: ‘F**king Grifters’

    “We wish all of the ones we didn’t renew with the best of success they can have going forward,” he said.

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    Etcanadadigital

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  • Live at Lorem: Remi Wolf on Frank Ocean, 70’s Funk, Going on Tour, and Gen Z’s Favorite Spotify Playlist

    Live at Lorem: Remi Wolf on Frank Ocean, 70’s Funk, Going on Tour, and Gen Z’s Favorite Spotify Playlist

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    If you know, you know.

    There’s nothing like the feeling of being in the know, in the club. Especially when there’s no barrier to entry but good taste. And as Gen Z carves out their identity, both individually and as a generation, they’re creating digital communities by the minute.

    There are small monuments: a microtrend that perfectly captures one part of your aesthetic, a viral video that captivates the world like a flash in the pan, or a show/movie that dominates pop culture for its brief moment in the sun.

    Some cultural artifacts persist. From celebrity icons to slang terms, what is a generation but the ephemera they cling to? And for Gen Z, the things that define them are reflective of their resistance to being defined at all.

    Therefore, their cultural landmarks have to be as fluid, expansive, and even as chaotic as they are. That’s why their social media of choice is TikTok. Why their most successful celebrities are messy oversharers (in the best way) like Olivia Rodrigo. And why Spotify’s Lorem playlist is their soundtrack.

    What exactly is Lorem?

    Eclectic and esoteric, Spotify’s Lorem playlist manages to be wildly popular (it currently has over 1.1 Million likes) while still feeling deeply personal.

    Spotify is Gen Z’s music streaming service of choice. Spotify’s 2022 Culture Next Report showed that 18-24-year-olds played more than 578bn minutes of music on Spotify in 2021 — 16 billion more minutes than Millennials. Most of them didn’t grow up paying for music (or illegally downloading it from Limewire) and so the entire history of their music taste is cataloged on Spotify.

    One thing that draws them in and keeps them hooked? The ability to discover new music through the carefully curated, constantly updated playlists. Popular playlists include: Rap Caviar for Hip Hop fans, B.A.E for R&B listeners, and even the recent Tailgate Party playlist inspired by Taylor Swift’s sudden love of the Kansas City Chiefs.

    And since its inception in 2019, Spotify’s Lorem playlist has become Gen Z canon.

    What kind of music is on the Lorem playlist?

    Lorem blends bedroom pop, mainstream pop, and up-and-coming indie into one of Spotify’s most popular “genreless” playlists. Instead of compiling the top tracks of a specific genre, Lorem embraces Gen Z’s resistance to genre as a concept.

    Lorem isn’t one particular sound, it’s a feeling. A really good vibe. It’s made for playing in the car and at parties just as much as plugging in your headphones. Its genius curation blends familiar songs from mainstream artists — think, Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS — with less ubiquitous artists who often end up skyrocketing in popularity. It’s no wonder many artists featured on Lorem have become Gen Z icons.

    How many times have I heard someone say they discovered an artist on Lorem? Oh, if I had a nickel for each one. That feeling of community makes the Lorem playlist feel like a digital third space. And last night in Los Angeles, many of the artists featured on Lorem made that community literal at an intimate Spotify event featuring a performance by Remi Wolf and a special appearance by Norah Jones.

    Remi Wolf and Norah Jones at Spotify’s Lorem & Friends event in LACourtesy of Spotify

    Inside the Lorem & Friends Party:

    In a house in West Hollywood, some of the most exciting musicians and creators gathered for a night of good music, good company, and good vibes curated by Spotify. The Lorem & Friends event featured a performance by Remi Wolf, who was joined on stage by special guest, Norah Jones.

    Remi, who’s currently the cover star of the Lorem playlist, sang hits such as “Liquor Store,” and “Liz,” as well as new songs like “Shawty,” “Soup,” and even a cover of Frank Ocean’s “Pink + White” (which she had previously recorded a version of at the legendary Electric Lady).

    She even serenaded the crowd with a duet version of “Don’t Know Why” with Norah Jones.

    “Lorem & Friends is not only a celebration of the playlist, but of the incredible community of creatives that it’s attracted,” said Lisa Ritchey, Pop, Dance, Indie, Artist Partnerships at Spotify. “We wanted to bring everyone together in person to showcase the level of love and respect that these fans and artists have for each other. Watching Remi Wolf and Norah Jones collaborate in front of our eyes is the biggest proof point — music brings people together, and Lorem is a special place both on and off our platform.”

    Remi Wolf was the perfect artist to showcase the cultural truth at the heart of Lorem: the kids aren’t just alright. They have really good taste.

    Remi Wolf behind the scenes at Spotify’s Lorem & Friends event in LA (featuring a Cake with marachino cherries … IYKYK)Courtesy of Spotify

    We got a chance to talk to Remi about cultivating her own sound, trusting her taste, and trusting her audience. Check it out below!

    POPDUST: You have such a distinct sound. How have you managed to stay true to your own vision throughout your journey, within collaborations, and in the industry?

    Remi Wolf: Big question. I think that I as a person have always been very decisive. I know what I like. And I know what I don’t when I see it. And I think that I carry that around with me in every kind of sense of my life. And in crafting my musical identity, I’m just always following the sounds that I like. It’s a lot of gut intuition. I can’t necessarily tell you why or what, but I know it when I hear it.

    And I have enough musical vocabulary to describe the feeling I want to go for and I’m lucky to have people around me whose taste and intuition I also trust. I like to surround myself with people who also have a strong sense of taste. And that generally makes the art better and the experience better and more fun. Like, less second-guessing, and more just like, let’s do this thing because we liked it.

    POPDUST: Have you always been like that? So trusting of your taste?

    Remi Wolf: Yeah, I think so. I can’t really remember a time when I wasn’t, except for maybe in middle school. When everybody’s wearing Abercrombie and at a certain point, you’re like, Well, fuck, I have to get some Abercrombie. So that’s just confusing, right? But once I was around 15, or 16 I think that’s when something really clicked inside of me, and I was kind of just on my own little wave.

    POPDUST: What albums do you think helped hone your taste?

    Remi Wolf: When I was in high school, I think one really enlightening album for me was 2 by Mac DeMarco. For people my age, that felt very revolutionary. Like, fuck, we’re smoking weed in the park and this is so trippy or whatever, and you kind of start having psychedelic thoughts. He’s amazing. He’s such a free musician and so singular in the sense that I don’t think he pays attention to anything that’s really going on in the rest of the industry. And because of that, I like it. And of course, Frank Ocean. Channel Orange.

    POPDUST: Channel Orange more than Blonde?

    Remi Wolf: Definitely. Great fucking album. I love Blonde too. But Channel Orange is so soulful with a lot of jazz influences. And he’s just an incredible songwriter, incredible lyricist. So creative. And then I also fuck with The Beatles. I fuck with Stevie Wonder. Michael Jackson. Lots of funk. Red Hot Chili Peppers were huge.

    So kind of a mishmash of a lot of different things. I started playing music and in bands when I was 15. So all of that music that I was playing — which was a lot of just like classics, right? — just sunk in totally and created a monster.

    POPDUST: Thank god for that monster. What about now? Is there that’s been inspiring you lately?

    Remi Wolf: I’ve been listening to a lot of Solange. I love her. A Seat At The Table and When I Get Home are both kind of in constant rotation for me. I have also been listening to a lot of 70s funk stuff. And I can’t tell you really exactly what, but I’ve just been consuming a lot of it. There’s just one song called “Love Come Down” by Evelyn “Champagne” King. So fucking good. Also, Wings, which is like Paul McCartney’s band. I mean, Paul McCartney is an amazing songwriter. So, so good. Current things, I love Big Thief. And I did listen to the Olivia Rodrigo album. And it’s great.

    POPDUST: When you’re writing, how much are you thinking about audience? Does that influence you at all?

    Remi Wolf: Oh, that’s an interesting question. I feel like I think about audience through my own lens of like, do I want to play this at a show, right? And would this translate to a crowd? Because like I performing is like one of my main my main shebang. So I always have that in my mind. But it’s less so about like, oh no, what are they gonna think? Because you can never figure that out. All you can do is make sure that you like it. And I think I trusted myself enough to know that, hopefully, if I like it, somebody else will like it, too. So that’s more of my barometer, right? And I think about the show but not really from their perspective, more from like, is this something I want to perform? Or would this be something that would make me happy to say? And just trusting that’s enough.

    POPDUST: Has your relationship with any songs changed after performing them?

    Remi Wolf: [Laughter] I mean, yeah. You get so tired of your own songs. I’m certain I’ve sung “Photo ID” probably over 1000 times. And I would probably be happy not performing that song for like a year or two.

    POPDUST: Do you ever change it up?

    Remi Wolf: I do, yeah. I change the setlist pretty frequently, actually. But there are certain staples you gotta hit, right? But, new music soon. New Shows.

    POPDUST: New songs to get tired of.

    Remi Wolf: Exactly. That’s the beautiful thing about an album cycle. That it just keeps going.

    Listen to Remi and friends on the Spotify Lorem playlist here:

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    Langa

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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

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    Every week, I imagine all of us sitting…thinking about what the next Weekend Playlist article has in store for us. Call me a narcissist, but it’s surely what I’m doing all week long. It’s exhausting, truly.

    I spend the week excited for new music, because quite frankly I go through so many minutes of listening that I need a constant flow of new tracks to get me through each week. It’s the price of being a music reporter and lover, you simply can never have enough. And, if I can let you in on a little secret, we’ve got a ton of great new tunes this week.

    What I love about fall is there is literally no choice but to sit inside with your AirPods on stare out the window, yearning for warmer weather. And while you have your normal queue of fall albums (for me: Noah Kahan’s Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), Taylor Swift’s 1989, and Harry Styles’ Harry Styles), there’s always room for a new favorite song or two.

    There’s no need to do all the searching yourself, which is why I take the liberty of curating a special playlist for you! So let’s not waste anymore time and get to it…the moment we’ve all been waiting for (or maybe just me, who knows?)

    Drumroll please…let’s get listening!

    Jeremy Zucker- “this time” 

    Recovered from his hit album, summer, Jeremy Zucker is releasing “this time”…five years later! Zucker just released a new album, is nothing sacred?, this year and is preparing for his North American tour starting in October. It’s all about celebrating how far he’s come as both a musician and songwriter, five years after the mega hit “come thru” hit the charts.

    He’s someone who can collaborate with any genre, his voice melding perfectly into his duet’s. A threat in the music industry who just gets it, Zucker’s song “this time” proves he’s known who he is from the start.

    Surf Mesa ft. Griff Clawson- “Run” 

    Surf Mesa continues to blaze his own trail in the electronic dance community with “Run”, a borderline perfect collaboration with Griff Clawson. A talented producer and songwriter, Surf Mesa builds momentum as Griff soundtracks a song about running away from the good ones. Surf is in the middle of touring, and is releasing his debut EP Come True soon, but he’s not slowing down…and “Run” is proof.

    “The track ‘Run’ off my upcoming EP Come True is one of my favorites,” Surf Mesa says. “I’ve been diligentlyworking on this unreleased track, and it’s been a deeply personal project for me. I’m excited to share it withyou. This song represents a significant chapter in my musical journey, and I believe it will resonate with you in a profound way.

    Oliver Tree- Alone In A Crowd 

    Oliver Tree is perhaps the most creative, one-of-a-kind artists out there…constantly paving the way using different sounds, instruments, and synths to curate songs that are both easy and exciting to hear. Now, he’s back with his third studio album, Alone In A Crowd, 14 tracks including features from Super Computer and the iconic Robin Schulz.

    Tree is about to tour the new album through Australia and the UK, and his live shows aren’t one to be missed. Picking apart social media and the need for approval in this new EP, it’s both thought-provoking and uplifting.

    Del Water Gap- I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet


    Del Water Gap has consistently put out solid, soulful tracks that make you want to press replay when you finish. Now, he’s back with his EP, I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet, 12 tracks of honesty, passion, and self-reflection. It stays true to your classic Del Water Gap sound- fun and playful, mellow and melancholic.

    This is the sophomore album from Del Water Gap, who has given us classics like “Better Than I Know Myself” and “Ode To A Conversation Stuck In Your Throat.” An instant classic, he’s solidifying himself as a dynamic singer-songwriter in the industry today.

    Joy (Anonymous)-  “JOY (I Did You Wrong)”

    In anticipation of their new album, Cult Classics, Joy (Anonymous) is taking their iconic music to the next level. Blending sounds of disco, house, and soul through talented songwriting, Joy (Anonymous) is constantly coming up with innovative ways to change the game. “JOY (I Did You Wrong)” is another example of how the duo can make a hit that sounds different than anything you’ve heard before.

    “Cult Classics is the soundtrack of Joy Anonymous meetings over the past two years. It began in Imogen Heap’s house in Romford. where we spent two weeks working with various friends and new collaborators to form the skeletons of what was to become the album you hear today. Then we took these sounds on tour and tested them out in meetings around the world, honing and developing the sound on the move. Joy Anonymous is a movement where people feel included and feel safe to share expression and emotion. We have tried to capture that in the sound, process and delivery of this album,” says Joy (Anonymous).

    Jade LeMac- “Grapevines” 

    Jade LeMac lends her clever wit and strong voice to “Grapevines” before her sophomore EP, Confessions, drops. A metaphor for love and yearning, LeMac has an ability to turn any given feeling into a song. It’s fun to listen to her music, which is brutally honest in all the best ways…she’s cutting edge and “Grapevines” is just the beginning.

    “‘Grapevines’ is one of the more fun songs I’ve written. I remember being in the studio and seeing a vine, then thinking about the word ‘grapevines’ – and how cool and unique it would be to use that in a song. So I decided to base this whole song off of that one word. Naturally, it led me to think about being fed grapes (like how you used to see in the movies), and drinking wine (because that’s obviously made out of grapes), then it slowly became a metaphor for craving someone the way you would crave a glass of wine – or grapes. Sweet, a little bitter, but makes you feel happy. That’s how this song was born.”

    Mae Muller- “Nervous, But In A Good Way” 

    Mae Muller’s highly anticipated debut album, Sorry I’m Late, is welcomed with open arms. She’s every bit a talented vocalist who has hits under her belt already, and with leading singles like “I Came To Dance” and “I Wrote a Song” which garnered further excitement for her entire body of work. It’s an exciting time to be a Mae Muller fan, who tailors her music specifically to how she’s feeling and her experience…making for honest and relatable songs.

    You know Mae as the 2021 breakout star, with “Better Days” featuring NEIKED and Polo G which topped the charts and was a radio favorite. But this side of Mae Muller we’re seeing now is one of growth and confidence in her music and ability.

    Gamuel Sori, Lovespeake- “Us” 

    Gamuel Sori is here with an easy listen…calming guitar sounds immediately fill your speakers as the song opens. It’s a pleasant, relaxing song about making deep connections with people. One of my favorites on the playlist this week, you won’t want to stop listening.

    “It was a pleasure to work with Lovespeake for this one, I believe he brought the exactfeeling that I was thinking about. ‘Us’ is not just about love, but about the connections between people and how they can be very fragile.” says Gamuel Sori.

    Raphaella- “Holla At Me” 

    Sampling the iconic, badass TLC’s “No Scrubs,” Raphaella spins together a bouncy house song that makes you want to go out and dance. Raphaella empowers listeners with “Holla At Me”, something you can use to uplift yourself and gain confidence as you go on.

    “‘Holla At Me’ is an interpolation of one of my favourite 90s songs ‘No Scrubs’ by TLC. I started making the beat one afternoon and while I was trying to write the top line I couldn’t help but singing the chorus over the top; quickly became obsessed. I thought it could be really fun to turn it on its head and do a positive, empowered version from my point of view…” – Raphaella

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    Jai Phillips

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  • How Spotify’s “Lorem” Playlist Became Gen Z Canon

    How Spotify’s “Lorem” Playlist Became Gen Z Canon

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    Curated Spotify playlists can make a larger impact on the music industry than you might think.

    Those looking to get a jump on the next radio hits tune in to Spotify’s Pop Rising playlist, which has over two million followers. Hip-Hop heads often favor the frequently-updated Rap Caviar playlist, which has accrued a whopping 13 million followers and counting. The cleverly-titled Are & Be, the straightforward Rock Classics, and the workout-themed Beast Mode each have millions of followers of their own.

    But there’s one playlist that, despite not really fitting into a clear genre category of its own, is becoming one of Spotify’s fastest growing curated playlists: Lorem.

    Lorem quietly emerged on Spotify at the beginning of 2019 and has since grown to amass over 1.1 Million followers. With a nondescript title and a vast range of artists featured on the playlist, Lorem is curated with the intention to construct a “vibe” rather than limiting itself to one specific genre.

    It’s fascinating, then, how this “vibe” has become so popular—particularly among Lorem’s majority female, Gen Z audience. Its description reads: “songs u can send to ur, friends, or keep for urself,” with an intentional Internet shorthand that echoes the playlist’s Very Online nature.

    Lorem’s curator, Lizzy Szabo, keeps one specific question in mind when it comes to picking tracks for the playlist: “What type of music are younger audiences ready for, based on their other habits?”

    “With Lorem, we’ve honed in on artists that we really wanted to focus on, and I think it has a clear enough narrative that you can understand what the Lorem brand is,” Szabo told Pigeons & Planes late last year. “Yeah, it’s going to step out on different genres a bit, but not so much that it’s just a mix of who-knows-what. Now we’ve seen what works, what people engage with most on this list, and how we can put discovery artists next to top tier artists and make it work.”

    Lorem seems to be based around a certain aesthetic that feels like 2020’s iteration of the “art hoe.” As YouTuber-gone-singer-songwriter Conan Gray says in a short promo clip for Lorem, it’s “like if you took all the kids from art class and put them on a playlist.”

    Lorem is tailor-made for the zoomers who idolize Clairo, Gus Dapperton, and Omar Apollo, who probably went through a Brockhampton and Rex Orange County phase in 2017, who know what it means to ask somebody if they listen to Girl In Red, who likely bleached two face-framing strands of their hair in quarantine.

    #Loremwww.youtube.com

    Lorem feels heavily inspired by young artists who’ve broken the barriers of “bedroom pop” in a literal sense, but have maintained a remote sense of intimacy and authenticity among their listeners despite their meteoric popularity. “It’s sort of like bedroom pop gone to the mainstream and a lot of things adjacent going on around that,” Szabo explained.

    So on Lorem, you can find artists as mainstream as Billie Eilish, Lauv, and Harry Styles, who have each surpassed billions of streams on Spotify. However, the playlist also takes into account steadily-growing bands like Wallows and Goth Babe. Even if you’ve never heard of these artists, they pretty much all boast millions and millions of streams—thanks, in part, to the virality of Lorem.

    The aesthetic that surrounds Lorem doesn’t exactly have a title, but like “VSCO girls” and “e-boys,” it stems heavily from the Internet. It calls to mind the bold, vintage-inspired style of young Internet personalities like Emma Chamberlain and Enya Umanzor, who have the power to dictate what’s “cool” with a single outfit picture on Instagram.. (It’s worth noting that both Chamberlain and Umanzor have also been romantically linked to Lorem artists Role Model and Roy Blair, respectively.)

    The TikTok explosion this year has acted like an echo chamber for this carefree, colorful style to take over, as well as the type of music that’s now become inextricably linked with it. Artists like BENEE, Joji, and SALES have all been added to Lorem after going viral on TikTok. “I tried to put in some nods in there sometimes and create a listening experience that’s similar for an 18-year-old girl that’s having to go from app to app and from Twitter to Instagram to TikTok or VSCO,” Szabo said.

    What makes Lorem and its adjacent aesthetic so fascinating is that, since rebranding from Spotify’s Left of Center playlist, it’s almost become the new “center,” altering what it means for an artist to be “indie.” Szabo asserts that, despite occasional conspiracy theories, there has never been any heavy marketing around the promotion of Lorem.

    Still, Lorem has come to represent a playful, artistic lifestyle and an open-mindedness towards music—if hundreds of thousands of young folks online resonate with that, maybe the future does look bright.

    Lorem

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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

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    I don’t know about you guys, but I’m feeling a bit lackluster this week. It may be because of the raging illness I’ve been fighting- and I know I’m not alone here…but there is truly nothing I need more than the weekend and new music.

    I’m gearing up to cover Sea.Hear.Now festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where I’ll be beach-side watching bands like The Killers and The Beach Boys play all weekend. Naturally, that means I need a playlist to get me through the drive to the shore, one that will hype up me and my roommates for a great weekend.

    But, let’s not be selfish here, I’m sure you also have plans (and one day, I’d love to hear about them, just not now!) Here’s the thing about me, and I’m sure someone can relate, I find it hard to listen to the same playlist week after week. Whether I’m pregaming for the bars or driving to my next destination, I will tire of the same songs when I overplay them.

    And then there’s the songs that I hyper-fixate on, listening to them on repeat until I finally scratch the itch and stop forever. Regardless, my mindset is “out with the old, in with the new” and you know what that means…

    We have a whole new week’s worth of music to celebrate! That’s right: Drake and SZA, Demi Lovato, Chris Lake and Aluna, and more will be gracing our ears this weekend. If no one else is excited for this playlist, I am…so as always, let’s get listening!

    Noah Kahan, Lizzy McAlpine- “Call Your Mom” 

    There aren’t enough sufficient words in the world to describe my love for Noah Kahan. He’s one of the busiest men in music right now- touring the world, collaborating on “Dial Drunk” with none other than Post Malone, he was just spotted recording with Zach Bryan, and now has released his collab with Lizzy McAlpine on his song “Call Your Mom.”

    While “Call Your Mom” was already touching, Lizzy McAlpine’s voice lends a different perspective to the song. When your favorite artists announces a collab, part of you is nervous because you fear the song will be ruined now…but that isn’t the case with Lizzy McAlpine, whose gentle vocals enhance Noah’s, melding perfectly into one of the best duos music can get.

    Chris Lake, Aluna- “More Baby” 

    Chris Lake and Aluna are quickly emerging as the ultimate dance duo: with Aluna’s sultry vocals and Chris Lake’s iconic production abilities, it’s no surprise that they followed up the success of “Beggin” with their new single: “More Baby.” A song perfect for your pregames, your runs, or for any time you want to get up and moving, “More Baby” is classic Chris Lake.

    It’s been a huge year for both Lake and Aluna, who have been touring and simultaneously releasing banger after banger. You can’t help but feel like this isn’t the end for a budding dynamic duo like these two, and “More Baby” just solidifies that any track can be a hit if their names are attached.

    Oliver Tree- “Fairweather Friends” 

    Ahead of his third studio album, ALONE IN A CROWD, Oliver Tree has released dynamic single “Fairweather Friends.” Oliver Tree is one-of-a-kind, blending beats and genre-bending to create music fresh to your ears. With “Fairweather Friends,” Tree gives us a glimpse into the new album, which is about how we as humans act surrounding pop culture – the good and the bad.

    “Fairweather Friends” makes for the perfect single, exciting and refreshing, introspective and self-deprecating. It’s about the friends that stick around when you’re at your highest of highs, but who are not necessarily there when you need them most. Everyone has had them, but Tree’s catchy beat and punchy lyrics make this song a thrill to listen to.

    Shay Lia- “ON THE LOW” 

    If you want a song that embodies After Hours at the club, where you’re just focusing on dancing all night…then try Shay Lia’s “ON THE LOW.” Shay Lia’s crooning voice is ideal for her R&B sound, but it’s also perfect for mixing up genres and stepping out of the norm. “ON THE LOW” is an example of how Lia can throw her voice into any genre- dance, R&B, pop, you name it- and it will work.

    Shay Lia created this track with Kaytranada, marking their 10th collaboration together over their long-time friendship. Now 10 years later, “ON THE LOW” shows that nothing has changed for the pairing: they’re still friends, they can still make a hit track, and it’s always going to work for them.

    DWLLRS- “This Heaven’s Tall” 

    DWLLRS has a way of perfectly capturing nostalgia and wrapping it up into a flawless track. Their melancholic music can feel eye-opening, beautiful, and rare all at once. Their new single, “This Heaven’s Tall”, deals with the risks and rewards of falling in love with someone new, and, as always, the California duo puts their own spin on love that listeners will appreciate.

    “This song captures a sweet ignorance of feeling close to heaven while falling in love-knowing that this love is temporary, and the fall will be devastating. Is the pain worth the thrill?”

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To

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    I’m baaaack. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, after a very brief hiatus (do you hear that, One Direction?) we are here with another weekend’s worth of new music. Every week I’m giddy to wake up to all the new releases, it feels like Christmas!

    And while you may be feeling lost on what to listen to, I for sure am not. My work email inbox floods with press releases for new songs each week when the clock strikes midnight. Screaming headlines about listening to this song or that, and I take the time to listen to each and every one of them.

    Who do I do it for, you ask? You, my dear readers…and myself. My friends look to me for new music and playlists, this isn’t a job I’ve ever taken lightly. So you should know that I’m pouring my heart and soul into these playlists every week for the love of the game.

    It’s hard to feel the end-of-summer blues when you’re finding new music to listen to every Friday. Especially since we have certified bangers from Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS album, which was rated a perfect 100 by Rolling Stone. So of course she’s featured, but we also have a ton of other great songs on this list to get you through a traumatizing week.

    No one wants to talk about the horrors we’ve endured this workweek…so, as always, let’s get listening!

    Olivia Rodrigo- ​GUTS 

    Listening to GUTS, you can’t help but smile for Olivia Rodrigo. With the weight of the world on her shoulders, the immense pressure to follow-up a meteoric debut album, SOUR, everyone was wondering what came next. GUTS leaves no question about Olivia’s ability to follow up hit after hit, and perfectly displays her songwriting ability.

    Detailing angst, relationship woes, and self-doubt, Rodrigo pens 12 tracks that channel the pop-punk Y2K-inspired princess that she really is. Her music sounds like the beginning of your favorite early 2000s rom-com, which is exactly what this world needs. It’s drum-heavy, introspective, and a knockout sophomore album for her.

    KAMILLE- K1

    KAMILLE’s fans have been begging for her mini-album, and it’s finally here. She’s the UK’s rapidly rising name in R&B, with the ability to enrapture listeners with her unique sound and crooning tone. K1 also features killer collaborations with Nile Rodgers, Tamera, and Bellah, showing how KAMILLE’s voice can blend seamlessly with any singer’s.

    She’s won BRIT Awards for her talent, but you shouldn’t let that be the reason you become a fan. KAMILLE deserves her flowers for K1, a well-rounded mini-album that gives you the perfect taste of her music. Tracks like “Don’t Waste My Time” and “All My Love” are stand-outs you won’t want to miss.

    Morgan Saint- “It Hurts To Be Human” 


    Following up her single “Did You Lose Your Heart”, New York native Morgan Saint is blazing a path with her music. Honest, hard-hitting, ethereal, Morgan Saint has a way of making you lose yourself in her music. “It Hurts To Be Human” is a testament to her talent, showing us an intimate look into her mind.

    This won’t be the last we hear from Morgan this year, who fans are anticipating new releases from throughout the rest of this year and some of 2024. And I, personally, can’t wait.

    ZHU- “Take My Soul” 

    It’s about to be a big 2024 for ZHU, who announced today that he has his new album, GRACE, coming out in January. On top of that, we get his new single, “Take My Soul”, which gives us a peek inside his highly anticipated album. It’s one of the best introductions to ZHU, who has a big sound and catchy beats to get everyone dancing.

    But ZHU didn’t just give us one single…but three additional songs that are slated for GRACE. In the Days Before Grace preview, you’ll get a sampling of classic ZHU, making us even more excited for January.

    DJ_Dave- Intercell

    DJ_Dave is here with her debut EP, Intercell, with visualizers for every single track. It shows how dedicated DJ_Dave is to developing her sound, curating a full vision with each song that makes the music truly art. The tracks are mesmerizing, instantly

    “As my debut project, my concept for Intercell is to make an entirely self-produced and performed project that emphasizes live-coding as an essential part of the production,” says Dave. “My goal is to show how live-coding can and should fit into world of music outside of technology-specific environments. I came up with the title Intercell as a way of explaining the way my project is part of something bigger than just this project, and bigger than myself.”

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and others start podcast about Hollywood strikes together

    Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and others start podcast about Hollywood strikes together

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    WGA rejects proposal from Hollywood studios


    Writers strike continues as WGA rejects proposal from Hollywood studios

    04:17

    Five of America’s most famous late-night comedy hosts are banding together to create a podcast to discuss the ins and outs of the ongoing Hollywood strikes, Spotify announced Tuesday.

    The limited series podcast, titled “Strike Force Five,” launched Wednesday and features the voices of Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and John Oliver. 

    “This past May, the hosts of five major late-night talk shows had an idea: to meet every week to discuss the complexities behind the ongoing Hollywood strikes,” the press release explained. “What ensued was a series of hilarious and compelling conversations.”

    The comedians then partnered with Spotify to release these “once-private” conversations to the world.

    In addition to raising awareness about the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which include both writers and actors, the show will donate all proceeds it makes to the out-of-work staff and crew on each of the late-night hosts’ shows — “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” and “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”

    The series will run for at least 12 episodes, the statement said.

    The five aren’t the only evening TV hosts to announce support for those on strike.

    Ken Jennings will be taking on all hosting duties for the upcoming season of “Celebrity Jeopardy” as Mayim Bialik steps down in solidarity with the WGA, according to reporting by Variety.

    Members of the Writers Guild of America have been on strike since May to fight for a contract that meets their demands for better pay, success-based residuals for streaming content and regulations regarding the use of artificial intelligence.

    Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists joined the strike in July to fight for higher pay and tighter regulations on the use of A.I. in creative projects. (Some CBS News staff are SAG-AFTRA members, but they work under a different contract than the actors and are not affected by the strike.)

    “Strike Force Five” will be available to stream on any platform where podcasts are available.

    Simrin Singh

    Simrin Singh is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.

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