TL;DRSpotify’s New Music Friday now features short-form videos from its editorial team discussing new releases and rising artists. US only for now, free and premium.
Spotify is adding short-form videos from its editorial team to New Music Friday, its flagship weekly playlist for new releases. The videos feature Spotify’s curators sharing their picks, spotlighting rising artists, and explaining the stories behind songs and albums. The feature is rolling out to free and premium users in the US first.
“New Music Friday has always been about helping fans discover the best new music each week,” said John Stein, Spotify’s Head of North America Editorial. “By bringing our editors directly into the experience, we’re giving listeners a closer connection to the people behind the playlist.”
The update builds on The Drop Weekly, an in-app editorial series Spotify launched in September 2025 where editors break down new releases and discuss cultural moments. That feature has not yet rolled out globally. Spotify told TechRadar it is focused on “establishing and nailing the editor-led videos in the U.S.” before considering expansion.
The 💜 of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!The move puts faces to a process that has always been invisible. Spotify’s editorial playlists are among the most powerful distribution channels in music, with New Music Friday placements capable of making or breaking a release week. Until now, the people making those selections have been anonymous. The videos introduce them as personalities with perspectives, not just algorithmic outputs.
