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Spotify Launches GLOW, An Equity Initiative To Boost LGBTQ+ Artists
Here's how the music streaming platform wants to help queer musicians.
Spotify has launched a new initiative to support LGBTQ+ musicians – and not just during Pride Month!
Yesterday, the music streaming service announced GLOW, a brand new equity program for LGBTQ+ creators. According to the press release, GLOW hopes to ensure "that queer creators, and their contributions to music and culture, are heard and honored year-round."
They're doing this with a GLOW hub on the application which boasts "sounds from the community" and includes LGBTQ+ podcasts, news, and playlists honoring queer pioneers young and old. Some playlists feature only trans artists or Black, queer artists while others are just a vibe: one playlist called Sweat is simply filled with club bangers specifically selected by Charli XCX.
In a broader sense, GLOW promises to amplify 11 LGBTQ+ artists from around the world in the hub, with billboards across the U.S., and "in even more ways" that have yet to be announced. The artists currently selected as a part of the initiative are Bruses, Jean Seizure, Leland, Liniker, Natalia Lacunza, Arlo Parks, Joesef, Pabllo Vittar, Sam Smith, Tove Lo, and Villano Antillano. "We recognize the power of our platform to elevate, uplift, and spotlight voices that have been historically marginalized, and we’re committed to using it to drive cultural change," said Spotify.
They've also launched a 360 program that provides "editorial and partnership capabilities, marketing support, and charitable giving to organizations like QORDS, Astrea, Black Trans Femmes In The Arts, ChamberQueer, Allgo, It Gets Better, Youth Music, and Casa Chama."
They announced all of this at the Spotify office last night with a celebratory gathering, the conclusion of a songwriting camp led by jesse saint john, JHart, and INK.
Orville Peck, Betty Who, Arlissa, Leland, Isaac Dunbar, Miki Ratsula, Trixie Mattel, Baby Yors, and more LGBTQ+ musicians were in attendance.
"Mattress" singer Leland, who is a longtime collaborator of Troye Sivan's and co-wrote much of his groundbreaking album Blue Neighborhood, spoke on how far songwriters have come in just the last few years in a panel hosted by Artist Partnership Manager Lisa Ritchey. When he was writing with Sivan back in 2015, Leland says he expressed hesitancy when Sivan sang openly about boys out of fear it couldn't be commercially accessible or relatable to a straight audience. Looking back, Leland says those moments "really allowed me to have a fearlessness and fire I had not had before to just be my fucking self." And look how far we've come now, particularly with one of the queerest Grammy nomination lineups ever.
"I'm really happy to be in this chapter and everyone can sing about who they want to sing about and know that they are going to be affirmed and celebrated," Leland added.
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
