Spotify Technology SA

07/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/17/2024 10:19

Spotify Brings AI DJ to Spanish-Speaking Music Fans Around the World

When we launched our AI DJ in English last year, it gave listeners a new way to connect with and discover music on Spotify. DJ is a personalized AI guide that knows you and your musical tastes so well it can choose what to play for you. It combines a curated lineup of songs with an AI-powered voice that provides commentary about those recommendations. This is all created through the powerful combination of Spotify's personalization technology, generative AI in the hands of our expert music editors, and a real and relatable AI voice.

Now it's time to bring our AI DJ, in beta, to Spanish-speaking Spotify Premium users around the world.

Since the debut of the AI DJ, we've learned the importance of context for our users. When listeners hear commentary alongside personal music recommendations, they're more likely to listen to a song they may have otherwise skipped. Premium users love DJ. The median DJ listener spends more time listening to DJ than listeners of any other recommended set.

Whether you learn something new about your favorite artist or evoke a fond memory while listening to a nostalgic track, DJ brings playful moments to your listening experience that keep you coming back for more. Premium Users who listen to DJ listen to more Spotify. We see an increase in listenership the week after a user first listens to the DJ compared to the week before.

You may know Xavier Jernigan (his friends call him "X") as the very first AI voice model of DJ, in English.

X is Spotify's Head of Cultural Partnerships and has hosted numerous podcasts on Spotify over the years. His personality and voice resonated with our listeners, so he was a natural first pick. X isn't going anywhere, but listeners who know and love the voice now have the option to choose to hear another DJ voice in Spanish.

The impact of the Spanish language within music culture is undeniable-from the popularity of Latin artists on our platform to the power of music in breaking down language barriers. We have millionsof Spanish-speaking listeners on Spotify, many of whom have been taking to social media to ask about DJ. In fact, over the last few months, we've seen an over 215% increase in social conversation around DJ in Spanish. Rolling out DJ in Spanish was a natural next step in the evolution of the product, and we're excited for the world to meet Livi, the voice of DJ in Spanish.

Introducing DJ Livi

To create the voice model for the DJ in Spanish, we enlisted our own Senior Music Editor, Olivia "Livi" Quiroz Roa, a Spotify music editor based in Mexico City who has spent her entire career in the music industry.

In her day job, Livi curates popular playlists on platform and has played an instrumental role in the launch of our EQUAL program in Mexico.

After an extensive international casting call, Livi's voice resonated the most with users. Testers really felt it was relatable and like they were hearing music recommendations from a friend.

How to get started with DJ in Spanish

The Spanish-speaking voice will be available for Premium listeners in markets where DJ is currently available. It is expanding to Premium users in Spain and across select markets in Latin America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

As long as you're using Spotify Premium in a market where DJ is available, here's how you can find it:

  • Head to the Search tab on Spotify.
  • Search "DJ."
  • Press play and let your personalized DJ do the rest.
  • To switch languages, simply tap the three-dot menu within the DJ card and choose between English or Spanish.

At its core, DJ is aboutdiscovery and connection. By providing context around your music recommendations, we're creating even deeper connections between artists and fans. With Livi as the voice of DJ in Spanish, we now have the opportunity to reach millions of Spanish listeners on our platform and bring them an entirely new way to listen to Spotify.