Universal Music Canada Signs Punjabi Super-Producer Thiarajxtt
Universal Music Canada (UMC), the country’s leading music company, is thrilled to announce the signing of one of the Punjabi music industry’s most sought-after super-producers, thiarajxtt, also known as Dilmanjot Singh Thiara. To mark this exciting new partnership, thiarajxtt has released his debut EP, If the Sun Had a Dark Side, his first new music of 2024.
“thiarajxtt is driving the modern sound of culture today,” said Jeffrey Remedios, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Canada. “We’re honoured to work alongside Dilman as together we take South Asian music made in Canada to new global heights.”
This five-track EP is thiarajxtt’s first release as a lead artist since 2023’s Heartfelt EP and follows an incredibly productive year, having worked on genre-defying productions for major artists like Diljit Dosanjh’s album Ghost (featuring the mega-hit “Kinni Kinni”), Jassa Dhillon’s “SPAIN,” and projects with Shubh, Channi Nattan, Jerry, and others.
“I want to break boundaries and bring new and legendary artists together on one project. This is the first step,” thiarajxtt shared. “Partnering with Universal Music Canada is more than just a milestone—it’s about pushing the limits of what can be achieved when bold ideas and a clear vision come together. UMC has trusted my vision, and together, we’re ready to break barriers and create cultural bridges. This is just the first step in a journey that will redefine what’s possible in music. Everything today may fade by tomorrow, but good music—that’s timeless, and that’s what we’re here to create.”
If the Sun Had a Dark Side features vocals from thiarajxtt’s twin brother, Irman, as well as Indrr Bajwa, across a mix of hip-hop, R&B, and pop tracks, all produced by thiarajxtt. The EP opens with “Colt Buntlines,” a romantic-gangster track where Bajwa expresses admiration and offers reassurance to his partner. Songs like “Route 66” and “Kasoor” explore similar themes, while “What They Doin’” takes a bolder approach, declaring thiarajxtt, Irman, and Bajwa as fearless leaders in the industry.
Originally from Harkhowal, a village near Hoshiarpur in Punjab, thiarajxtt moved to Toronto, Canada in 2019. He quickly made his mark on the global music scene with early collaborations, including the hit “We Rollin’” with Shubh. His production of “No Love” for Shubh became one of the most-streamed songs on Spotify India in 2022.
Last year, he further cemented his legacy by producing most of Diljit Dosanjh’s multi-platinum album Ghost. Now, thiarajxtt is setting his sights on empowering producers within the Punjabi music scene, striving to bring them into the spotlight, much like industry leaders Metro Boomin and DJ Khaled have done with their projects.
Music Videos in Beta Brings an Improved Viewing Experience to New Markets
Earlier this year, Spotify introduced music videos in beta, giving Premium subscribers in 12 markets a new way to engage with the songs and artists they love. Today, Spotify is expanding that feature to 85 additional markets, offering even more Premium subscribers the chance to explore the visual worlds of artists like Charli xcx, LISA, Fontaines D.C., Nick Ward, Anirudh Ravichander, and Fireboy DML.
Music videos offer a powerful way to strengthen the connection between artists and their fans. In fact, Spotify data shows that users who discover a song and then watch its music video are 34% more likely to stream the song again the following week. Additionally, songs discovered through music videos are 24% more likely to be saved or shared by those who watched.
Music videos enhance the fan experience, whether they’re enjoying a new song or rediscovering an old favorite. As part of this expansion, Spotify is also introducing new features to improve the music video experience in beta. These updates include:
- Fans can now easily find and discover new music videos (on both mobile and desktop) with video indicators on tracks.
- Users can locate specific music videos by searching for the track or artist.
- A seamless switch between music tracks and videos is now available with a single tap (on both mobile and desktop).
If you’re eager to try it out, here’s how:
- Premium subscribers in one of the 97 beta markets can open Spotify on iOS, Android, desktop, or TV devices and tap the “Switch to video” button for music tracks that include a video.
- The music video will start playing in the Now Playing view, picking up where the audio left off.
- To return to audio, simply tap “Switch to audio” and the music track will resume.
- On mobile, you can also enjoy the music video in full screen by turning your device to landscape mode.
The beta version of music videos is starting to roll out in new markets today with a limited catalog of videos and will continue expanding in the coming weeks. Spotify remains committed to enhancing connections between artists and fans by adding features like Countdown Pages, Canvas, Clips from your artists, Artist Profiles, Live Events, and Merch to deliver a rich music listening experience. And for Premium subscribers, music videos in beta—along with offerings like DJ, Jam, and AI Playlist further enhance the listening experience.
Stay tuned as Spotify works to expand the catalog of music videos, introduce new places to watch them, and bring this feature to even more users and markets.
Coldplay Unites With Spotify and FC Barcelona To Release a Special El Clásico Shirt, Merch Collection, and Matchday Playlist
Spotify is continuing its groundbreaking collaboration with legends from both music and football through its unique partnership with FC Barcelona. This time, the iconic Barça shirt will feature a special Coldplay logo inspired by the band’s tenth album, Moon Music, which debuted at Number 1 on Spotify’s weekly global charts and is available now.
The shirt will be worn during FC Barcelona’s highly anticipated El Clásico match on October 26, as well as FC Barcelona Femení’s match on November 2. Coldplay is the latest artist to be featured on the Barça jersey through Spotify, following previous shirt takeovers by KAROL G, The Rolling Stones, ROSALÍA, and Drake
“We’re honored that Spotify has chosen to feature our ‘Moon Music’ design on the shirt of FC Barcelona,” the members of Coldplay shared in a statement. “We’ve had a special relationship with the city and the club for many years.”
With 12 tracks in Spotify’s Billions Club, Coldplay holds the title of the most-streamed British band of all time on the platform. Their connection with Barça fans dates back to the 2008-2009 season, when their hit song “Viva la Vida” became the club’s unofficial anthem.
Coldplay, like FC Barcelona, has a global fanbase, and this partnership celebrates the shared joy and unity that football and music bring to people worldwide. The Moon Music logo featured on the Barça shirt was even inspired by a fan’s design, highlighting the band’s deep connection to its listeners.
“Coldplay is one of the most beloved bands in the world on Spotify, and its storied connection to Barça runs deep. We are thrilled to celebrate that history with fans worldwide through the iconic Barça jersey,” said Marc Hazan, Spotify’s VP of Partnerships and Marketing. “The release of Moon Music is a perfect moment to celebrate the power of football and music’s ability to bring people together.”
The limited-edition jerseys will be available for purchase in Barça Official Stores in Spain and online starting October 18. In honor of the club’s founding year, only 1,899 jerseys will be sold. Additionally, for superfans, a special collection of 22 glow-in-the-dark jerseys—11 signed by the men’s starting XI and 11 signed by members of the Femení squad—will be available.
All net proceeds from these jerseys will be donated to The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), continuing the partnership FC Barcelona began with the organization in 2022 to raise awareness about the challenges faced by refugees worldwide.
“We’re also proud to support the UNHCR in their lifesaving work to protect refugees and displaced people around the world,” Coldplay added. “Heartfelt thanks to Spotify and FC Barcelona for making this happen.”
To enhance the moment further, Coldplay will curate a special edition of the Barça Matchday playlist on Spotify, featuring some of their favorite tracks to motivate both players and fans leading up to the big match.
Spotify, FC Barcelona, and Coldplay are also collaborating on a limited-edition lifestyle collection, including T-shirts, hoodies, and scarves. The merchandise, which will be available at the FC Barcelona Store on October 18, merges the celestial themes of Moon Music with Barça’s legendary colors.
“We are delighted that through our partnership with Spotify, Coldplay will feature on the FC Barcelona shirt for El Clásico,” said Juli Guiu, FC Barcelona’s VP of Marketing. “The band and the club have a mutual love that has stretched over many years, from the band visiting training sessions to Barça players attending Coldplay concerts in Barcelona, and the band’s music soundtracking some of the club’s greatest moments.”
Spotify Launches Audiobooks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—and Premium Listeners Get Instant Access
Since its launch just over a year ago, Spotify’s Audiobooks in Premium feature has introduced the audiobook format to a new audience across the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. More listeners are exploring audiobooks for the first time, embracing a wide range of titles, with hundreds of thousands of unique books streamed.
Now, Spotify is excited to expand access to audiobooks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This includes work from renowned local authors such as Gaël Faye, Maylis de Kerangal, Joël Dicker, Suzanne Vermeer, and Saskia Noort.
Eligible Spotify Premium subscribers in these regions will be able to access over 200,000 audiobook titles as part of their subscriptions. Any audiobook not included in the Audiobooks in Premium offering can be purchased separately, and non-Premium listeners also have the option to purchase individual titles.
In collaboration with local publishers, Spotify—recognized as the world’s leading audio streaming subscription service—aims to grow the audiobook industry further. By enabling more listeners to discover and engage with a diverse catalog of titles, including those in their native languages, Spotify is fostering innovation and expanding the reach of audiobooks.
One year into Audiobooks in Premium Although still in its early days, the response to Audiobooks in Premium from authors, publishers, and listeners in available markets has been outstanding. In the U.S., listeners who start an audiobook on Spotify are spending an average of five additional hours on the platform in the first two months after starting a book.
This latest expansion not only creates new opportunities for local authors and rights holders but also provides a new revenue stream for the industry. With 28% of Spotify’s users in Europe, Spotify continues to invest in growing both the audience and revenue potential for publishers and authors.
Spotify announced this latest expansion in Paris, where industry experts such as Laure Saget, CEO of Hachette’s Audiolib, Liza Faja, Head of Lizzie, and Timothée Borne, CEO of Blynd Media, gathered to discuss the future of audiobooks in the region.
5 Unknown Facts About Aretha Franklin’s Iconic Album “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You”
Aretha Franklin’s tenth studio album, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, is an unforgettable part of music history. While many know it for its breakthrough success and legendary tracks like “Respect,” here are five lesser-known facts about the making and impact of this album:
- A Rocky Start in Muscle Shoals
The title track was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, but the session didn’t go smoothly. An altercation broke out between Aretha’s then-husband, Ted White, trumpeter Ken Laxton, and FAME Studios owner Rick Hall, forcing the session to be cut short. The album’s completion was moved to Atlantic Studios in New York City, where many of the tracks were finished. - Unfinished Yet Perfect
“Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” was left incomplete at FAME Studios due to the abrupt end of the session. The Muscle Shoals rhythm section had to be flown to New York to finish the song. Interestingly, there was a discrepancy in tape speeds between the two studios, which caused the piano on the final recording to be slightly out of tune—a fact producer Chips Moman later regretted. - A Columbia Records Departure
This album marked a significant turning point for Franklin, as it was her first release with Atlantic Records after nine less-successful jazz albums with Columbia Records. This shift allowed her to explore her soul roots, ultimately bringing her the commercial success and recognition she deserved. - Rolling Stone’s Mixed Review
Although the album is now hailed as one of the greatest of all time, its initial reception was not all praise. Rolling Stone criticized it for weak production and sidemen, stating the drums weren’t hard enough and the guitar lacked strength. However, the album has since been reappraised, now ranking #13 on Rolling Stone’s 2020 list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” and in 2002, they placed the album at #1 on their “Women in Rock: 50 Essential Albums” list. - Those Musicians. Oh Those Musicians
While Aretha Franklin’s powerhouse vocals steal the spotlight, I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You featured an incredible lineup of musicians who helped shape its iconic sound. Guitarists like Chips Moman and Jimmy Johnson brought depth to the album’s soulful grooves, while Spooner Oldham, a legendary session musician, contributed his signature keyboards and piano. The rhythm section was anchored by Tommy Cogbill on bass and Gene Chrisman and Roger Hawkins on drums, whose tight, nuanced playing added weight to the tracks.
The album also had a brilliant brass section with trumpeter Melvin Lastie and saxophonists King Curtis (tenor) and Willie Bridges (baritone), whose horn arrangements added richness and texture to tracks like “Respect” and “Save Me.” Additionally, the backup vocals were nothing short of extraordinary, featuring Franklin’s sisters Carolyn and Erma Franklin, alongside Cissy Houston (mother of Whitney Houston). Their harmonies provided a soulful complement to Aretha’s lead vocals, creating an unbeatable blend of voices that lifted tracks like “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” to the sky. Together, these musicians and singers formed the perfect foundation for Franklin’s voice, creating an album that remains timeless in its impact and influence.
Jerry Cantrell Set to Rock Out at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino This January
Get ready for Jerry Cantrell, who is set to take over the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on Friday, January 31, 2025, as part of his I Want Blood Tour! Joining Cantrell is special guest Filter. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 18 at 10:00am through ticketmaster.ca.
“Jerry Cantrell is rock royalty, and this performance will be electric,” says Cathy Price, Vice President of Marketing, Niagara Casinos. “It’s a fantastic honour to host one of the most legendary guitarists of all time at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino.”
His vocals, melodies, and riffs are as instantly recognizable as they are powerful, nuanced, and eclectic. Both a disciple of the hard rock tradition and a massive influence on subsequent generations of artists, Jerry Cantrell straddles the line between earnest salt-of-the-earth songwriter and beloved living legend. His fourth solo album I Want Blood arrives with all the aggression and heavy, inexhaustible stomp its title suggests. The follow-up to the best-reviewed solo album of Cantrell’s career 2021’s Brighten further expands his musical palette without sacrificing any of his inescapably infectious melodic hooks. “Vilified,” which opens the album, is an anthem, a mission statement, kicking off I Want Blood with attitude. Cantrell’s mountain of work as a solo artist and chief songwriter, guitarist, and co-vocalist in Alice In Chains stands tall in influence and respect. He’s collaborated with Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Danzig, and Deftones, among others. He’s contributed to music heard in films by Academy Award-winner Cameron Crowe and Judd Apatow and entries in the John Wick and Spider-Man franchises. Rolling Stone named the multi-platinum Tacoma, Washington native one of the greatest guitar players of all time. His catalog mines the best of metal, rock, blues, and Americana.
Joining Cantrell is rock band Filter. Filter’s debut album Short Bus was released in 1995 and went platinum, largely due to the success of their first single “Hey Man Nice Shot.” The follow up, 1999’s Title of Record, also went platinum driven by the huge crossover success of the song “Take a Picture.” Celebrating 30 years of Filter, 2023 saw the much-anticipated release of a new Filter album The Algorithm.
Show date & performance
Jerry Cantrell I Want Blood Tour with special guest Filter
Date: Friday, January 31, 2025
Showtime: 8:00pm
Venue: OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
Tickets for Jerry Cantrell I Want Blood Tour with special guest Filter go on sale Friday, October 18 at 10:00am.
Montreal’s Claudia Bouvette Announced As Spotify’s RADAR Canada Artist For October
Claudia Bouvette’s message is one of female empowerment and the freedom and courage to be oneself, and this month she’s Spotify’s RADAR artist for October.
To celebrate this up-and-coming artist, Claudia took over a billboard at Toronto’s iconic Yonge-Dundas Square on Friday, October 11.
Claudia joins a number of emerging artists Spotify Canada has supported early in their artist journey, and at a time when she is poised to show the world how far she has come and where she’s headed next.
Regardless of the artistic medium, Claudia Bouvette’s message is one of female empowerment and the freedom to be oneself. Her music encourages openness and the courage to assert and reveal one’s true self. Born in Bromont (QC), Claudia Bouvette now lives and works in Montreal. A singer-songwriter, she’s always been passionate about music. After a stint in television, she returned to her first love in 2019 and released an initial EP featuring eight songs written and produced with Connor Seidel. She spent the following two years polishing her songwriting and musical production techniques. Her debut full-length album, The Paradise Club, was released in 2022 on Bonsound. Since the release of The Paradise Club, Claudia has performed at various venues across Quebec and Ontario, and at festivals such as Osheaga, Festival d’été de Québec and M pour Montréal. She even fulfilled her childhood dream of joining Simple Plan on stage at FestiVoix in Trois-Rivières. The singer also went on to open for Ne-Yo at the Festival des Montgolfières and Sean Paul at Soif de Musique. In 2022, Claudia graced the cover of Elle Québec magazine, and made appearances on the small screen on numerous occasions, as a performer, co-host and actress.
Spotify’s RADAR program is grounded in supporting emerging artists from across the globe and by joining this acclaimed emerging artist program, fans will have the opportunity to learn more about the breakout artists with their “Clips’ series and through short videos and editorial support on the official Spotify playlists.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids Are Headlining Spotify’s Indigenous Playlist
First Nations hip hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids are hitting Spotify’s centre stage as the Indigenous playlist ambassadors for the month of October. Hailing from Kitamaat Village, BC, Haisla rappers Young D and Yung Trybez have been making waves in the music scene.
From Toronto, to BC, and all the way to Los Angeles, Snotty Nose Rez Kids have been touring to celebrate the release of their new album “RED FUTURE.” To date, the duo has received nominations for Best Hip Hop Album at the Indigenous Music Awards in 2018 and was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize for their fifth album, “I’M GOOD HBU?.”
The playlist is already updated with their own selections of music highlighting other Indigenous artists. To celebrate the takeover, they will also be featured on a billboard in Toronto’s iconic Yonge-Dundas Square on October 11.
Taylor Swift’s Exclusive Eras Tour Book and Anthology Set to Release at Target on November 29
Starting November 29, Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated The Official Eras Tour Book and The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology will be available exclusively at Target. The 256-page hardcover book features over 500 images, including never-before-seen performance photos from every era, along with exclusive rehearsal photos and behind-the-scenes glimpses of instruments, costumes, set pieces, and designer sketches. Swift herself shared that the book is filled with her personal reflections and magical memories from the tour. The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology will be available on both vinyl and CD, featuring 35 tracks, offering fans a deeper dive into her musical journey.
