Spotify has launched a multimedia format called Spotlight that will introduce a visual element to audio content including podcasts, audiobooks, playlists and news in a move that takes it beyond music streaming.
Spotlight will add visual layers to the listening experience, giving fans a deeper insight to their favourite artists, playlists, books, publishers and more through photos, video and text.
The feature will launch with content from partners including BuzzFeed News, Cheddar, Crooked Media, Lenny Letter, Gimlet Media, Genius, The Minefield Girl, Refinery29 and Uninterrupted.
Additionally, it will showcase content from some of Spotify’s own original series such as RISE, Secret Genius, Spotify Singles and the new Viva Latino podcast.
The programming, which first arrives in the US, spans several content categories including news, pop culture, sports, politics and music, as well as a range of viewpoints, voices and more.
Additional series will be launching throughout the month of February and it will roll out to additional markets in the near future.
“We are excited to launch Spotlight, a new format that merges great storytelling, news, information and opinion with visual elements all delivered in playlist form across a number of content categories.”
Courtney William Holt, Spotify
“We are excited to launch Spotlight, a new format that merges great storytelling, news, information and opinion with visual elements all delivered in playlist form across a number of content categories,” said Courtney William Holt, Head of Studios and Video.
“Playlists play an important role in the daily lives of our users bringing them closer to the creators they love.”
“It feels like a generation ago that MTV News delivered the latest to a whole generation of music fans, but it’s not hard to imagine BuzzFeed News and Spotify doing the same in 2018.”
ben Smith, buzzfeed
Ben Smith, Editor-in-Chief, BuzzFeed News added: “It feels like a generation ago that MTV News delivered the latest to a whole generation of music fans, but it’s not hard to imagine BuzzFeed News and Spotify doing the same in 2018.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring together our award-winning audio team, world-class journalism, and Spotify’s massive, dynamic platform to get listeners up to speed every morning.
“I can’t wait to see this project get off the ground next week and grow along with the future of news.”
Matt Lieber, co-founder and president, Gimlet Media said: “We’re excited to see partners like Spotify investing in podcasting to enhance the audience’s experience of our storytelling.
“Everything at Gimlet begins with audio, and with Spotlight, through new visual expressions of shows, we hope to reach new listeners in fresh and original ways.”
Maverick Carter, CEO, Uninterrupted added: “Uninterrupted is creating new and innovative ways for athletes to connect with their fans through authentic, insightful, and entertaining content they can’t get anywhere else.
“How we watch, enjoy and engage with the content created by great athletes on and off the floor is rapidly changing.
“Spotify is an incredible partner for Uninterrupted. Their Spotlight platform becomes an entirely new and creative way for Uninterrupted to help tell the best stories in sports.”
Music Business Worldwide
