Music streaming service Spotify is continuing its original programming push with three new podcasts, all of which are music-themed and the first of which premieres today. Spotify has carried podcasts since the spring of 2015, according to The Hollywood Reporter, though the latest slate of exclusives solidifies its mission.
The new shows include: Showstopper, premiering today and produced by Panoply Studios about memorable music moments on TV; Unpacked, in which Broad City music supervisor Matt FX will interview music festival goers across the U.S. beginning on March 14; and The Chris Lighty Story (working title), which will explore the life and career of the late music exec. The Lighty series is being produced by Gimlet Media and Loudspeaker Network, and will premiere in April.
Spotify, which said it had 40 million paying subscribers in September, has also announced plans for original video content, including a slate of 12 original series last May — all of which are also about music. Landmark, for instance, will tell the story behind important moments in music history, while Rush Hour, courtesy of Russell Simmons’ All Def Digital, will feature two hip-hop acts who must conceive and perform a musical collaboration.
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Spotify said in a blog post that more original podcasts will be unveiled later this year.
The trio of new shows follows a report in Digiday earlier this month noting that Spotify was in talks with podcast production companies including Gimlet, How Stuff Works, and Pineapple Street Media about picking up original shows.
