TO MARK Black History Month and its continued commitment to giving diverse voices a platform in the UK, Spotify is shining a spotlight on the black artists and talent who have made a difference in a very challenging 2020.

This includes Headie One whose hotly anticipated new album ‘Edna’ launched in the UK last week, as well as OFB, Arlo Parks and Young T and Bugsy, who will all feature within Spotify’s Black History Is Now hub, as well as in a nationwide campaign.

We are excited to highlight some amazing artists that are releasing music throughout October, including Headie One’s brand new album ‘Edna’

Safiya Lambie-Knight, Spotify Lead for Artist and Label Partnerships

From songs that build community and anthems that comment on political resistance, to artists who made people listen, sing out loud and dance to their beat. 

In 2018, Spotify launched Black History Now to celebrate music across all genres that has been created by black artists.

Now in its third year, Black History Is Now will continue to support emerging, aspiring and leading Black talent, with billboards across the UK featuring a whole host of Black artists who have made waves in 2020, many releasing new music in October.

On platform Spotify has curated a series of unique playlists celebrating black culture, including:

• Wash Day: The soundtrack to getting your natural Black hair washed, styled and braided 
• Love + Hip Hop: UK RAP, Grime & Drill love songs we don’t always get to hear
• Island Pop: Biggest pop songs and crossover tracks from the Caribbean
• Afro Throwback: Afrobeat classics from when the scene was just emerging
• Freestyle: The UK’s hardest freestyles in one place
• No Signal: Collaboration list curated by Spotify Tastemakers 

In an unprecedented year, listeners in the UK have increasingly visited the Black History is Now hub to show their support for the black community, to educate themselves and to be inspired. This includes a 237 per cent rise in streams of music and podcasts visits to the hub on Black Out Tuesday.

In addition to new music content, listeners can expect updated podcast collections and content. Spotify Original podcast Who We Be TALKS – the official podcast partner to the UK’s biggestHip-Hop, Afrobeats, Dancehall and R&B playlist, which celebrates Black music and culture – will record four dedicated Black History Month episodes. 

Listeners can also tune into Spotify’s Inspirational Black Life Stories playlist, a hand picked selection of podcast episodes that tell incredible Black life stories, from Ghetts to Dianne Abbott.

Curated podcast collections featuring on the Spotify homepage from Monday will also include Know Your Black History, including educational content such as Black Curriculum, Black History Bites, 1916, Witness Black History and Bold Brashy Voices, including the following: Receipts, Don’t Alert The Stans,Yellow Cup Under The Bridge.

Safiya Lambie-Knight, Spotify Lead for Artist and Label Partnerships said: “The Black History Is Now Hub celebrates Black music and culture today and every day since it’s launch in 2017.

“While Black music consumption continues to grow month on month on Spotify, this October, we will also celebrate Black creators who have had an incredible year.

“We are excited to highlight some amazing artists that are releasing music throughout October, including Headie One’s brand new album ‘EDNA’ and OFB’s powerful new track ‘BLM’ as well as some other amazing artists, podcasts and brands.”

Visit the Black History is Now Hub HERE.