Hey, people!
Last evening, Spotify took an enormous step into the long run on the 2023 Stream On occasion. The third version of its sort targeted closely on increasing the horizons for creators and embracing them no matter their Audio space – Music, Podcasts, or Audiobooks.
Spotify unlocked new pathways for content material creators and listeners all over the world at Stream On, with recent new options introduced to enhance connections and construct actually engaged listener communities.
I joined Ross (aka @OurPodfather, one of many Community Managers), to deliver this weblog to you and share a few of what occurred at Stream On 2023.
To begin, we heard concerning the audio market’s fast development, and the way Spotify is devoted to changing into an actual ‘home’ for curators, serving to them attain extra folks worldwide. After all, the music business is “more healthy and extra numerous than ever”, stated Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek.
We heard not solely about Artists and music although, but in addition Spotify’s heavy give attention to Podcasts and Audiobooks, and why they’re so very important to the platform. Podcasts stay a fast-maturing space, and so they’re changing into a favourite for customers across the globe. It was so cool to listen to how international locations like Brazil and India are rising as a few of the greatest podcast markets, however we’ll come again to speak extra concerning the modifications to Podcasts later!
All in all, final evening actually bolstered Spotify’s continued dedication to all Audio avenues, and we’re excited to speak about it right here on this weblog.
Starting yesterday, we’re going to see Spotify progressively up to date with new options and instruments to assist us listeners uncover the very best new content material and to assist creators get heard. Artists and listeners alike will turn out to be extra intertwined than ever, and we’re getting the chance to rise up shut and private with the Audio we love. With these modifications, we’re about to have much more legendary and personalised libraries at our fingertips.
The Home display is getting a recent new design that can supply not one, not two, however three interactive feeds. First up, animated track canvases, audio, and music previews will combine into one for probably the most distinctive and personalised Music expertise but. You’ll really see the artists you like, or are about to fall in love with and have every part proper in entrance of you. On the Podcasts feed, you’ll be capable of hearken to Podcast previews earlier than you commit – and even watch them if movies can be found! Then final, however not least, the Audiobooks feed may also work round you, bringing you options (with as much as five-minute previews), and serving to you to seek out that one title you may’t cease listening to.
Next up at Stream On, we need to discuss how Xavier “X” Jernigan, the voice behind the brand new Spotify AI DJ function took to the stage! “X” defined how Spotify is reimagining the way in which listeners work together with the music they love, via AI DJ. This was launched a number of weeks in the past within the U.S. and Canada, and it was fairly unimaginable to see “X” inform the story of how this brings Spotify to life!
Having spoken quite a bit about discovery and being delivered the freshest new content material, Spotify additionally acknowledged how we like to create our personal playlists too. Spotify lovers are always saving their favourite Audio to playlists, and it appears we’re fairly eager on changing into curators ourselves via the Spotify expertise. These home-grown self-made playlists stay one of many prime decisions when deciding what to play, nevertheless Spotify understands that over time tastes change and we don’t simply keep in a single playlist. We transfer on, and start making the subsequent playlist in our library (generally forgetting concerning the ones that got here earlier than). After all, our tastes stay dynamic with every part supplied to us.
As a solution to maintain user-built playlists new and recent, Spotify is introducing Smart Shuffle mode. This is a particular function should you ask me, that provides new advisable songs to your playlist, fastidiously contemplating how every track will combine and go well with the vibe simply as you need one thing new combined in. It’s much like the Enhance function, however now, it is on-demand by creating a brand new expertise to maintain these listening periods evergreen.
Going one step additional once more, listeners can now simply discover new feeds for discovery within the Search tab too. You’ll scroll up and down to seek out songs, and may simply save them, share them with associates, or observe the artist multi function place. Exploring associated genres goes to be simpler than ever utilizing hashtags too! Previews will arrive on Made For You playlists too, like Discover Weekly or Release Radar, introducing one other distinctive expertise.
So, what subsequent? Spotify launched three new instruments for artists to assist them with that connection component, and allow them to advertise to their fan base with Spotify for Artists on the coronary heart of it. You can learn extra about that right here.
Countdown Pages was then introduced by artists themselves, which because the title says will permit listeners to pre-save upcoming releases, and get notified first upon launch. Counting down with the artist not solely retains us within the loop in realtime, but in addition supplies one other of these ‘connection’ factors between the artist and listener.
More artists may also be capable of work together with their followers via Video Clips on their albums web page or their profiles on Spotify. “The potentialities are expansive, with Clips enabling artists to construct pleasure for an unreleased track, promote a brand new album or single, inform the story behind a track, and way more”.
Now, I promised you we’d come again to it, so over to Ross to let you know extra concerning the massive updates on Podcasts…
During the occasion, Spotify introduced a collection of thrilling updates which might be geared toward enhancing the expertise for Podcasters and listeners. These updates embrace new options akin to video podcasting rolling out additional, interactive episodes with Q&As and polls, and academic content material coming that enables customers to be taught and develop alongside their favourite reveals.
Spotify can be increasing its lineup of Spotify Originals and Exclusives, which can deliver but extra thrilling reveals to the platform. Examples of those reveals embrace The Riddler: Secrets within the Dark and video podcasts like Forbidden Fruits. Spotify is partnering with creators akin to Markiplier, Collab, Creative Juice, and Karat to supply a variety of numerous content material for listeners.
Spotify’s Audience Network has seen vital development since its launch in 2021, with the variety of podcasters taking part growing eightfold, and the month-to-month payout to opted-in publishers rising by practically 50%. The firm’s acquisition of Megaphone has additionally given Spotify a brand new internet hosting, insights, and monetization resolution for enterprise publishers akin to The Wall Street Journal, Paramount, and ESPN. This service will probably be uniquely built-in into Spotify for Podcasters sooner or later.
Spotify has additionally partnered with Patreon to allow creators to publish patron-only content material on the platform. This integration powered by Spotify Open Access permits patrons to simply hyperlink their Patreon account to their Spotify account and entry unique content material.
It’s additionally going to be simpler for Podcasters, as all their instruments are being consolidated into one platform known as Spotify for Podcasters. This new platform implies that creators can now entry every part they should make, handle, and degree up their present multi function place. Plus, they’re providing free internet hosting and superior analytics to trace a present’s development, which is fairly cool. But it isn’t only for creators who’re already on Spotify – all Spotify for Podcasters customers, even those that aren’t internet hosting their content material with Spotify, may have entry to interactive options like Q&A and Polls of their dashboards. And if that is not sufficient, entry to video podcasts is being opened as much as extra creators too.
In addition to the brand new capabilities, options for listeners to higher uncover and interact with creators’ work like podcast previews talked about earlier than, and Podcast Chapters are the icing on the cake.
Wow, this text was changing into so massive that we would have liked to function simply a few of our favourite elements of the 2023 Stream On, however there may be extra, and you could find it right here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DXcYuyJA5EXtX?si=f610672a2e3a48a5
Spotify is all the time full of latest issues, and should you do not need to lose it, keep tuned on Spotify For the Record. There you could find much more details about Stream On and a few unique articles for you, regardless of should you’re a listener, a creator, or each.
Big because of @OurPodfather and the Stream On crew for serving to with this text.
See you on the subsequent one!