Spotify hosted the virtual event Stream On Monday (Feb. 22) to discuss its new tools for creators, international expansion, new podcasts, and a hi-fi listening option.

Many celebrities participated in the event including Khalid, FINNEAS and Billie Eilish, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Halsey, Bruce Springsteen, President Barack Obama, and Justin Bieber, who closed out the livestream with a new version of his hit “Anyone.”

Among the highlights, Spotify announced expansion to more than 80 new markets and more than 36 new languages. It also revealed that premium subscribers will have the ability to upgrade to CD-quality, lossless audio in select markets later this year with a new subscription plan, Spotify HiFi.

New creator tools include upgrades to:
• Marquee, a sponsored song recommendation program
• Discovery Mode, an audience development tool which allows prioritization of tracks within Spotify’s algorithm
• Canvas, short looping visuals attached to a track (see Halsey’s video below)
• RADAR, the global emerging artist program
• Spotify Clips, which features artists in short videos on a playlist experience

Upgrades for podcasters include an Anchor + WordPress partnership, video podcasts which combine audio and visual storytelling, and new models for monetization.

Among the new podcasts announced on the livestream is one pairing former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen for Renegades: Born in the USA, an eight-episode series exploring race, fatherhood, marriage, and the future of America.

According to the company, it paid more than $5 billion to rights holders in 2020, and its library contains more than 70 million tracks, 4.5 billion playlists, and more than 2 million podcasts, made by over eight million creators.

Oh Boy Records, home to music by the late songwriting icon John Prine, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a series of special releases and events.

To commemorate the milestone, Oh Boy will share a new documentary series chronicling the label’s rich history and legacy via its YouTube page. Additionally, Oh Boy will roll out new releases from Tré Burt and Dan Reeder, as well as a special edition John Prine 7-inch box set, Fair & Square on vinyl. There will be exclusive new merchandise, special curated playlists, outdoor pop-up events and more.

Each week the label will celebrate a different album or artist from its extensive catalogue. The series kicks off Wednesday, Feb. 24 highlighting The Bis-Quits.

Founded in 1981 by Prine, and his longtime manager, the late Al Bunetta, Oh Boy says it is the country’s second oldest artist-owned independent label, and the oldest in Nashville.

It continues today as a vital part of Nashville’s independent music community with the recent signings of emerging artists Burt, Arlo McKinley and Kelsey Waldon.

Prine’s widow and President of Oh Boy, Fiona Whelan Prine shares, “As long as there are people who want to listen to good music, who will value the singer-songwriter then we will keep on going.”

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Prine’s landmark self-titled debut album, featuring the songs “Hello In There,” “Paradise,” “Sam Stone” and “Angel From Montgomery.” In celebration, Oh Boy will release a special anniversary edition of the album.

A new record label specializing in children’s and family music has launched in Nashville. 8 Pound Gorilla Records is a division of the noted comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Media.

8 Pound Gorilla Records has tapped Kenny Curtis (SiriusXM Kids Place Live) to handle A&R, and Ed Rivadavia as Head of Marketing. 800 Pound Gorilla Media Head of Music Luke Youngblom handles that role at both labels.

8 Pound Gorilla has scheduled releases by Genevieve Goings (known for her work with Disney Jr.), comedian-musician Mike Phirman, pop songwriting duo Rabbit!, and Sesame Street songwriter Erica Rabner. In the fall of 2020, it released music by Australia’s Formidable Vegetable and Grammy-nominee Frances England.

Curtis said, “These are artists who go way beyond ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ when they write songs for kids. These are honest, well-crafted songs that speak to kids in their world today. Family dynamics are changing as millennials become parents, and there’s a new appetite for music and content that families can share. For artists, the possibilities of working in this genre are endless, and we give them free rein to imagine and create their own ‘8 pounds’ of fun.”

Also signed to the label are award winners Elliott Park, Tim Kubart, SaulPaul, The Lucky Band, RAII & Whitney and DJ WillyWow.

Youngblom said, “The children’s music genre is clearly untapped. With many talented artists not yet recognized in the mainstream, we hope to change that. We are developing a nimble indie approach to this niche genre, and we will individualize our process with each artist as we grow this space, releasing original music that only a few major labels have been able to undertake.”

The comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Media was founded by Ryan Bitzer and Damion Greiman, and is home to Marc Maron, George Lopez, Kathleen Madigan, Affion Crockett and Kevin Hart’s LOL Records.

Comedian/actor Leslie Jordan is releasing a star-studded duets album, Company’s Comin’, on April 2 via Platoon. The first single from the project, “Angel Band” featuring Brandi Carlile, is out today (Feb. 22).

The project was inspired by Jordan’s weekly “Sunday Mornin’ Hymn Singin’” live stream, and features Jordan performing southern gospel hymns with special guests including Tanya Tucker, TJ Osborne (of Brothers Osborne), Travis Howard, and Katie Pruitt, with more surprise guests to be announced.

Company’s Comin’ offers takes on traditional hymns and brand new originals written just for the occasion, with a playful mix of righteous gospel, classic country, vintage soul and Americana/roots influences. Co-produced by Nashville songwriters/multi-instrumentalists Travis Howard and Danny Myrick, Company’s Comin’ is a bold and gleeful collection of songs, delivered by an artist coming full circle on his own personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

“My dear friend Travis Howard and I would get together on Sundays to sing these old hymns just because we loved them,” says Jordan. “Somewhere along the way, my business partner, Mike Lotus, took a real interest in what we were doing and started looking up and learning about every old Baptist hymn he could find. I think he realized, like we did, that the songs held something brilliant about the human condition and were a deep comfort to anyone who heard them, religious or not. He started posting our performances online, and the response was just incredible.”

Raised Southern Baptist in East Tennessee, Jordan is most known for his breakout role as Beverley Leslie on the iconic sitcom Will and Grace. His larger-than-life personality and southern drawl have captured fans around the world, and in 2020, Jordan’s hilariously relatable, slice-of-life videos on Instagram went viral and his popularity skyrocketed as he racked up more than five million followers in a matter of months. As the pandemic continued, Jordan found solace in the music from his youth, and with encouragement and accompaniment from Howard, he began performing the songs on social media.

Jordan is also launching his Apple Music Country show Hunker Down Radio with Leslie Jordan, which is set to premiere Feb. 28. He is also currently starring in the new FOX sitcom Call Me Kat and just announced his new book How Y’all Doing?, an essay collection of entertaining stories about the odd, funny, and unforgettable events in his life.