New countries, new marketing tools, and new ways to connect with fans are on the way.
Earlier today, at our Stream On livestream event, we announced our vision for the future of audio and set the stage for what we will be working on for the rest of the year. This is our chance to share a preview of the new features and programs we’re building for the more than one million artists and their teams that are using Spotify for Artists every month. And, of course, we share the stage with the amazing community of artists and podcasters who share their work with the world on Spotify.
To get the full experience, you can watch the entire event to see Halsey open up about what it means to share handmade art with her fans with Canvas, hear from RADAR artists around the world how Spotify helps them develop a fanbase, listen to Burna Boy speak about how Spotify’s global expansion helps his quest to be an “African Giant,” and watch a special performance by Justin Bieber. If you just want the highlights, we’ve compiled a list of the most important announcements for artists and labels from the event below:
1. Hello, World!
We’re bringing Spotify to more than 80 new markets in more than 36 new languages, so it will be easier than ever to reach a global audience and develop your fans no matter what country they live in. Together, these markets represent more than a billion people with nearly half of them already using the Internet — across Asia, Africa, the Carribean, Europe, and Latin America. You’ll see listeners from these new countries reflected in your Spotify for Artists dashboard as we launch throughout the year.
2. Speaking Your Language
Spotify for Artists is already a vital platform for artists and labels all around the globe to build their fanbase, and we’re going to make it even easier to use by launching in 25 new languages by the end of the year. That means more artist teams will be able to access Spotify for Artists in their local language, so that they can take even more control over their success on Spotify.
3. Expanding Marquee
Marquee is the best way to get your new release to the right listeners and activate your fanbase. Global superstars and independent artists alike have made Marquee a critical part of their release strategy, so we’re expanding the beta to even more artist teams beyond the U.S. and Canada. Soon, artists in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand will be able to book Marquees through their local Spotify teams. And in the United States, we’ll introduce a self-serve platform so teams can book campaigns and see results directly in Spotify for Artists. Read more about Marquee's expanded access and how Justin Bieber, beabadoobee, and Lyrica Anderson have used it to draw fans to their new releases here.
4. Discover Discovery Mode
The labels participating in our early tests are driving real results for their artists. By selecting tracks they want to prioritize in Spotify’s algorithmic recommendations, they’re driving additional streaming, reaching new audiences, and earning more from Spotify. At the event, we highlighted the success of ODIE, a rising artist who has participated in the pilot. This year, we’ll be sharing more artist success stories from our pilots, and we'll be opening Discovery Mode up to more labels later in 2021.
5. A Canvas for All
Today, we announced that all artists can now participate in the future of album art by adding a Canvas to any track in their catalog through Spotify for Artists. These short looping visuals are a hit with fans, and they make listeners more likely to save your track or share it on social media. At the event, Halsey shared how she’s been using Canvas — now all artists around the world can do the same:
6. Upgrading our RADAR
RADAR, our global emerging artist program, is getting bigger. Since we launched this program last year, we’ve elevated 175 up-and-coming artists from around the world — giving these artists editorial and marketing support at a pivotal moment in their career. This year, we’ll shine a spotlight on even more up-and-comers, featuring them on editorial playlists on Spotify and supporting their growth both within their local market and globally.
7. Clips Put Artists in the Spotlight
Playlists are getting an upgrade. We’re introducing new ways for artists to use select playlists to share their stories and create connections with fans. Spotify Clips will debut on even more Spotify playlists, featuring artists in short videos that let them put their personal stamp on a playlist experience.
Introducing Clips
8. Say Hi to HiFi
We’re giving Premium subscribers the ability to upgrade their sound quality, delivering music in CD-quality, lossless audio in select markets later this year. Your fans will get the chance to hear every detail in your tracks the way you intend for them to be heard.
We’re excited to share more with you in the coming months on all these updates and more. Want to stay up-to-date on the latest? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.