Music

Spotify Will Let Artists Promote Their Music In Listeners’ Algorithms On One Condition

Getty Image The streaming service is testing out a new tool which allows musicians to prioritize their songs on autoplay. …

Just a week after over 4,000 independent artists backed a campaign that pressures Spotify to pay artists more per stream, the service announced a new feature that poses another disadvantage to smaller artists. Spotify announced they will begin allowing artists to promote their music in your personalized algorithm — only if musicians agree to take a smaller cut of streaming royalties.

Spotify made the announcement in a press release Monday. Calling the feature a “new experiment,” they explained that “artists and labels can identify music that’s a priority for them, and our system will add that signal to the algorithm that determines personalized listening sessions.”

Per Spotify’s blogpost, which Gizmodo noted as “carefully worded,” the streaming service wrote that artists will be taking a cut of royalty payouts. “Instead, labels or rights holders agree to be paid a promotional recording royalty rate for streams in personalized listening sessions where we provided this service.”

Spotify then went on to clarify that if a song isn’t performing well with listeners, they will pull the song from its algorithm placement. “Listener satisfaction is our priority—we won’t guarantee placement to labels or artists, and we only ever recommend music we think listeners will want to hear,” they wrote. In other words, artists cannot ensure priority even if they agree to take a smaller cut of royalties in exchange for taking advantage of the feature.

This new tool will not factor into listener’s Discover Weekly playlists, which is a curated cluster of music the streaming service’s algorithm has deduced a listener will enjoy based on their streaming history. The feature will only apply to radio and autoplay services, though Spotify did note they may eventually expand it to “other personalized areas” of their platform.

Read Spotify’s full blog post here.

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Artist Spotlight

Crispy C Notes brings focused ambition on latest release “Chosen”

Crispy C Notes’ hip-hop release “Chosen” makes a statement with purpose and conviction. The record is clear about its artistic identity, with the independent Connecticut artist behind Alien Trap and Relatable Rap letting his commanding vocal presence lead the charge. The production returns to a hip-hop base and cuts out unnecessary frills, so the lyrics and performance can take center stage.

The song’s strength lies in its delivery. Crispy C Notes glides through measured cadences with sure-footedness, giving each verse gravity and lift. His writing is always spot-on, emphasizing determination and personal conviction with a clean lyrical approach. The sparse production plays to the song’s advantage, highlighting the vocal performance without overpowering it. It’s a balance that makes the listener feel that every rhythmic change and lyrical accent is intentional and serves to emphasize the record’s overarching message.

“Chosen” works because it knows that impact is often a matter of clarity, rather than complexity. C Notes is confident not only in his delivery but also in his songwriting, allowing his personality to flow organically throughout the track. The result is a record that is disciplined in its production but engaging from start to finish, thanks to its expressive flow and thoughtful lyricism. He delivers a project that is a true reflection of artistic growth and creative focus as an independent artist who is still finding his own lane. “Chosen” is a bold statement of self that leaves the listener with a clear impression of the artist’s vision and the direction in which he continues to move.

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Artist Spotlight

Maija breathes new life into classic emotion with latest release “Where Is the Love”

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And the lyric narrative has this feeling of longing, of broken promises and unanswered questions that feels very personal. Love, honesty, and emotional ambivalence are the main themes as the story unfolds, providing a connection to the song’s sincere viewpoint for the listeners. Maija eschews dramatic flourishes, leaving the expressive delivery and tasteful jazz arrangement to do the emotional heavy lifting. The trumpet, with its own soulful voice, gracefully weaves around the melody, and the supporting instrumentation adds to the song’s intimate character.

The production is slick but not overdone, letting the song’s lyrics speak for themselves. Whether you’re attracted to its expressive vocals, its polished instrumentation, or its relatable emotional themes, “Where Is the Love” is a compelling reminder that honest storytelling and thoughtful musicianship continue to define the very best moments in modern jazz.

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