Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming platform, held its annual Stream On event in Los Angeles on March 8th, 2023.
The event serves as a platform for the company to showcase its latest updates and achievements while giving users a glimpse of what to expect in the future.
This year’s Stream On was packed with announcements and new features for music and podcast lovers alike.
Here are some of the highlights:
New “TikTok” Style Home Page
Spotify unveiled a new home feed that prominently displays video content from artists, podcasters, and influencers. The feed looks similar to TikTok’s For You Page, with short-form clips that users can swipe through and interact with. Spotify said that this feature will help users discover new content and creators, as well as enhance their listening experience with visual elements.
New Podcast Partnerships
Spotify announced a handful of new podcast partnerships, production tools, and exclusive shows. Some of the notable names include Hasan Minhaj, who will star as the Riddler in a Batman spinoff podcast called Batman Unburied; Lizzo, who will host a wellness-themed podcast called Good As Hell; and Barack Obama, who will produce and narrate a documentary podcast series called Renegades: Born in America.
Accessibility And More Local Languages
Spotify revealed its plans to expand its global reach and accessibility by launching in more than 20 new markets across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The company also said that it will introduce more local languages and currencies to cater to different audiences and preferences.
New Creator and Artists Tools
Spotify showcased some of its innovative features and initiatives that aim to empower artists and creators on its platform. These include Soundtrap Capture Studio, a mobile app that allows users to record high-quality audio anywhere; RADAR Global Music Cultures Initiative, a program that supports emerging artists from diverse backgrounds and genres; and Spotify Greenroom Live Sessions, a live audio feature that lets artists connect with fans in real time.
Spotify for Podcasters
Spotify also announced the rollout of additional podcast features. Spotify for Podcasters now brings together the best of Spotify’s podcast creator tools into a one-stop shop to create, manage, grow, and monetize podcast content.
Previously, Spotify’s most innovative features were limited to Anchor users exclusively. But the company is building the new Spotify for Podcasters in a way that offers more open access to innovation. As a result, all Spotify for Podcasters users—including those not hosting their content on Spotify—will find access to Q&A and Poll functionality in their dashboards.
Starting today, when all creators sign up or log in to Spotify for Podcasters, they’ll find a dashboard with everything they need to make, manage, and level up their show, including:
- The ability to upload and publish episodes (for users hosting their show with Spotify for Podcasters)
- Interactive features like Q&A and Polls
- Advanced analytics to track a show’s growth, including streaming numbers and audience demographic data
400 Million Users Milestone
Spotify celebrated some of its achievements and milestones from the past year. The company said that it now has over 400 million monthly active users (MAUs) worldwide; over 100 million subscribers to its premium service; over 70 million tracks and 2.6 million podcasts on its catalog; over $5 billion paid out to rights holders in 2022; over 1 billion playlists created by users; over 50 billion streams for Drake’s Certified Lover Boy album; among others.
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