Listeners to Spotify this month will have noticed a huge increase in the amount of advertisements on the audio platform in the lead up to Christmas.
 
The number of advertisers has increased too, including some who are not regularly heard on commercial radio.
 
Spotify has been pitching hard to the market as listening increased during covid and, more recently, in the lead up to the Christmas advertising period.
 

Spotify has unveiled the 2020 Wrapped personalised experience for listeners around the world.
 
This year’s Wrapped experience is full of insights on podcasts, artists, songs and genres that defined listening in 2020. 
 
Eligible users can access their personalised Wrapped experience today exclusively in the Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android).
 
New features to look out for:

Today Spotify has unveiled the top podcasts that helped defined how more than 320 million people around the world listened and discovered audio.
 
Whether it was to stay informed or simply tune it all out, people kept listening and creators never missed a beat. 
 
PODCASTS (AUSTRALIA)

Spotify AUNZ have collaborated with former Australian Olympian, Cathy Freeman, and 16-year-old climate change activist, Jean Hinchliffe, to launch two Music + Talks shows titled My 2020 to discuss the music moments that shaped their year.  

Steve Ahern test drives the new Anchor function in Spotify.
 

Spotify has reported continued growth for Q2 despite the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The total of Monthly Active Users (MAUs) grew to 299 million with North America and India both performing well, while Latin America and Rest of World continued to see the fastest growth, up 33% and and 58% Y/Y, respectively.

Spotify and global ad agency Omnicom Media Group, announced a deal in which Omnicom will spend $20 million on podcast ads in the second half of 2020.

James Cridland analyses the deal:

$20m sounds like a lot of money for the next six months, but it’s a drop in the ocean when compared to Omnicom’s $35bn annual spend. Indeed, US radio makes around $20bn from advertising every year.

Comment from Peter Saxon.

Spotify have revised its full year 2020 outlook on revenue, expecting a drop in advertising and unfavourable foreign exchange rates to affect their bottom line.
 
Despite the global uncertainty around COVID-19 in Q1, subscriber rates and levels have grown, and the company’s outlook for Q2 and the remainder of the year remains unchanged with the exception of revenue.