AS more people around the world commit to staying home, streaming across devices like computer desktops, TVs, smart speakers, and gaming consoles increased.
According to music streaming platform Spotify, there is an uptick in self-improvement podcasts, as well as an increase in more cooking- and housework-themed playlists.
The company said parents, who face the challenge of needing to get work done while keeping their kids safe and entertained, have been playing everything from lullabies to help their children sleep to podcasts that spark curiosity.
Based on these trends and the general interest from listeners currently spending more time at home, Spotify has launched an “At Home” hub, which is a platform for users to access Spotify-curated playlists and podcasts recommended for some of the most popular at-home activities, including cooking, wellness, family content and more.
How social distancing shifted streaming
As people around the world increasingly moved inside over the past couple of weeks, music and podcast listening changes in a variety of ways.
For example, with fewer people streaming from their cars during their daily commutes and an increase in working from home, more people are streaming across devices like computer desktops, TVs, smart speakers, and gaming consoles.
Spotify said there’s also been an increase in cooking- and housework-themed playlists, showing that people are primarily focusing on family and domestic tasks instead of music intended for get-togethers. Self-improvement podcasts are seeing an uptick as well.
In terms of popular songs that people listen to, The Police’s “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” turns out to be popular during times like these. The song saw more than a 135 percent spike in streams in recent weeks .
Increased interest in news podcasts.
Spotify said there is an increase in interest in news podcasts such as Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction (CNN), Coronavirus Global Update (BBC), and Don’t Touch Your Face (Foreign Policy). Gimlet’s show Science Vs also has a few recent episodes on the COVID-19 outbreak.
Listeners are also in for a more “chill” music, meaning they’re more acoustic, less danceable, and have lower energy than songs previously added. Plus, the music tends to be more instrumental, featuring instruments rather than vocals.
There is also increase in collaborative playlists during this time frame, allowing people to connect over shared music and have virtual jam sessions together.
Artists live-streaming
As live tours are postponed, many artistes are staging virtual concerts online. James Blake, Indigo Girls, Ben Gibbard, Chloe x Halle, Code Orange, and Jewel are some of the many artistes who see spikes in streaming.
Another trend is that listeners have also been taking time for themselves and making their health and wellness a top priority. More people have been listening to podcasts in the health and fitness and lifestyle and health categories in the past week, with users also streaming more podcasts with the words “cooking” or “recipes” in the title or description.
Spotify said when it comes to playlists, users are creating and following more workout playlists than they were a month ago, and streams of running, yoga, nature sounds, and meditation playlists are up.
The songs people sing on balconies inspire streaming.
For example, in Italy and Spain, residents have taken to singing songs together from apartment balconies and windows, especially in honour of health care providers and first responders. Two of the songs sung in Italy have soared: streams of “Abbracciame” increased by 820 percent on March 13, and streams of “Azzurro” soared more than 715 percent on March 14. In Spain, streams of the ’80s track “Resistiré” (I Will Resist) by Duo Dinamico leapt by more than 435 percent starting March 15, after videos of the event started circulating on social media.