
When you're an emerging writer, the toughest thing is getting into the room, starts Aaron Buckingham, a lead on Spotify's Songwriter and Publishing Relations team. Maybe you have some friends from college or school that you wrote songs with, and maybe it grows to someone you form a band with. But to get into rooms with more established writers and on to artists' radars-that can take a lot of time.
The process is all too familiar-not just for Aaron, but for burgeoning songwriters looking for an opportunity to shine. Even when a new songwriter possesses undeniable talent, reaching that career breakthrough requires them to navigate an intricate path. And since part of Aaron's role at Spotify is to unlock opportunities for songwriters and publishers on and off our platform, he goes further than simply helping songwriters and producers get into the room. He and his team construct the room.
Spotify Sessions: A first taste of collaborative songwriting Spotify Sessions gives rising hitmakers a first taste of professional collaboration. Occasionally themed, always thoughtful, these sessions give songwriters the opportunity to connect with artists, producers, and engineers who are further along in their careers. With specific opportunities for R&B writers and women and non-binary creators, as well as songwriters in our RADAR Songwriters program, we're using the space to advance marginalized talent.
To date, Spotify has hosted dozens of writing sessions globally that have been attended by an array of the world's top songwriting and production talent, including Rodney Jerkins, Ink, Leland, Ilsey, Wayne Hector, Ricky Reed, Ina Wroldsen, and Kamille. The results are notable. Stream Dua Lipa's ethereal dance track Hallucinate or 21 Savage's Grammy-winning a lot and you're hearing the results of a Spotify Session.
Songwriters are the architects who have built the music industry that we all kind of exist in, Aaron explains to For the Record. I'm incredibly passionate about the process of songwriting, particularly by those who aren't necessarily performers themselves. I personally love how our writing sessions knock down some of the political walls and give people an amazing opportunity to create together, and come with no agenda attached.
Ines Dunn, a songwriter on the rise Click the image to hear from Ines
Once the writers get into the room, Aaron's next job is to understand how Spotify can best amplify their talent, starting by pairing them with fellow writers.
From the beginning, Spotify Sessions has set the stage for a few songwriters' first collaborative writing workshops. For Aaron, Ines Dunn stands out. I'd be listening to a new Mimi Webb song or Maisie Peters and look at the songwriter credits and be like, Ines Dunn? Is that the same student who came to our writing camp?' And it was!
In 2019, Spotify invited Ines and some of her classmates from the East London Academy of Music to a dance and electronic music writing session at our Noteable Songwriting Studios in London. There they tasted their first collaboration between artist, producer, and songwriter. Everyone wanted to work with Ines, remembers Aaron. She was an immediate star.
For Ines the experience was her first time workshopping with seasoned songwriters, and it was life-changing. Now she's a full-time songwriter with credits on Mimi's and Maise's recent albums, as well as on Griff's, METTE's, and Josie Mann's. And while songwriting has become part of Ines's everyday life, the process of coming together with others to write a song in settings like Spotify Sessions continues to be magical.
Songs are always such a landmark of the time and place and the people that you wrote something with, she tells For the Record. I have such strong attachments to the moments when I wrote those songs. As the days go by, you always forget what you did and how much time passed and the funny thing that happened. But I feel like songs really capture the Oh God, and I remember writing that thing in that moment and finding it the funniest thing in the whole world,' which is really nice because it kind of immortalizes those memories.
Supporting songwriters from moment to music After the sessions, there's more to do, including finding ways to showcase the work using the power of our platform.
Spotify is well positioned to really connect collaborators from around the world, Aaron says. Whether it's things like having the names and the credits viewable on platform, or with the introduction of Written By playlists and Songwriter Pages, we're giving anyone who's listening to music that ability to be able to click into the credits and see the complete discography of a songwriter's work straight away. That's great for fans because it gives them more context around the folks who have helped create the music, but also I think it's super beneficial for the writer in actually unlocking future collaborations.
Click the image to hear from Aaron
We've long supported behind-the-scenes moments of music creation through programs like Equalizer. In 2021, we created Noteable as a home for songwriters, producers, and publishers, with resources like Songwriter Pages, Written By playlists, the Songwriters Hub, educational video series, the Created by Women playlist, and much more available. And with five studios, we're also making in-person sessions even more accessible to creators in more locations around the world. Casa Spotify Medallo is the latest offering for Colombia-based songwriters to hone their craft together.
Similar to RADAR, our RADAR Songwriters program helps develop songwriters on the cusp of greatness. With marketing and editorial content, we've helped songwriters in Canada, Mexico, Am
More from Spotify
07/05/2025
Discovering music should feel effortless and fun. That's why Spotify continu...
06/05/2025
In Colombia, music isn't just background noise-it's center stage. It'...
06/05/2025
En Colombia, la m sica no suena de fondo: es el centro del escenario. Es el cora...
06/05/2025
At Spotify, we always seek ways to connect users with their next favorite podcas...
06/05/2025
Since Spotify's 2019 launch in India, the growth of the country's local ...
05/05/2025
As Europe gears up for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, Spotify is celebrating the spirit of unity and musical legacy with a new series of Spotify Singles. Fiv...
02/05/2025
Updated May 2: In a victory for consumers, artists, creators, and authors, Apple...
02/05/2025
Since 2022, Spotify and FC Barcelona have brought the worlds of music and footba...
02/05/2025
With more than 678 million users worldwide tuned in to Spotify, we're at the heart of music and culture. Our unrivaled global community of artists, songwrit...
01/05/2025
After four years of lectures, study sessions, exams, and parties, college senior...
30/04/2025
EA SPORTS FC 25 fans in Australia and Saudi Arabia, get ready to immerse yourselves in the beautiful game like never before. Spotify is excited to announce a n...
30/04/2025
The past year has been nothing short of a whirlwind for Tucker Wetmore. After th...
30/04/2025
Mexico's love for podcasts is no longer a trend-it's a lifestyle. With m...
29/04/2025
Idag rapporterar vi f r det f rsta kvartalet 2025, och vi inleder ret starkt med ett resultat som vertr ffar f rv ntningarna inom v ra nyckeltal. Vi levererad...
29/04/2025
Today, we announced our first quarter 2025 earnings, starting the year off strong by outperforming across key metrics, including the highest Q1 Subscriber net a...
29/04/2025
April is Arab Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the vibrant creators from acro...
28/04/2025
Podcasts have become a cornerstone of the Spotify experience, evolving from a ni...
28/04/2025
Each April, runners and walkers of all stripes gather together in Lower Manhattan for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum 5K. This race remembers those killed on Septemb...
24/04/2025
Playlists have always been at the heart of the Spotify experience. Since AI Playlist in beta launched last year, Premium users have used it to create millions o...
24/04/2025
From the California desert and Chicago's Grant Park to New York City's Flushing Meadows Corona Park and beyond, music festivals this spring and summer w...
24/04/2025
The sounds of Asia are as diverse and vibrant as the continent itself. From the lively beats of Indonesian pop to the gritty rhymes of Pinoy hip-hop, the region...
22/04/2025
Music has the power to connect us to one another and to the world around us. Spotify is once again teaming up with the Museum for the United Nations - UN Live...
22/04/2025
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all g...
22/04/2025
This year marks the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22. On Spotify, listeners can explore a world of stories about our planet in our...
15/04/2025
In March this year, Spotify unveiled its annual Loud & Clear report, a transpare...
15/04/2025
As the world's most popular audio-streaming subscription service, Spotify is...
14/04/2025
On Monday, April 14, Blue Origin's NS-31 mission lifted off from Launch Site...
14/04/2025
Whether it's having first access to tickets, being a part of once-in-a-lifet...
11/04/2025
Since entering the audiobooks space in 2022, Spotify has positively impacted the industry, paying out hundreds of millions of dollars to rights holders on an an...
11/04/2025
Latin America's love for scripted audio is about to get a thrilling new chap...
08/04/2025
As part of the first-of-its kind partnership between Spotify and FC Barcelona, w...
03/04/2025
Spotify Advertising hit a new high note today as we unveiled how we're makin...
03/04/2025
The next stage of Spotify Advertising has arrived. Today, during our Spotify Advance event in New York City, we unveiled a host of updates that make it easier f...
03/04/2025
Some of the biggest names in marketing, advertising, publishing, traditional and social media, and the creative worlds gathered yesterday at Chelsea Factory in ...
01/04/2025
USHER's London takeover is in full swing. After kicking off his sold-out run of shows at the O2 Arena to rave reviews, the R&B icon joined forces with Spoti...
27/03/2025
Since announcing the Spotify Partner Program last fall, we've heard from cre...
26/03/2025
nda sedan Spotify grundades har vi arbetat h rt f r att ka betalningsviljan f r...
26/03/2025
Spotify's RADAR program spotlights rising talent from around the world, and in Spain, it's been making waves since 2020. Five years in, RADAR Spain has ...
20/03/2025
Spotify listeners love discovering new artists and songs, but they also love fin...
18/03/2025
Looking for inspiration this Women's History Month? Discover the stories of trailblazing women with audiobooks on Spotify. Our Women's History Month aud...
18/03/2025
From morning commutes to late-night listening sessions, Spotify is the essential daily companion for millions of listeners globally. Podcasts, in particular, ha...
14/03/2025
Time flies when you're having fun and we can confidently say that Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer and Spotify's Head of Talk Strategy, is having not...
13/03/2025
Spotify took center stage at the London Book Fair this week, reaffirming our commitment to the audiobook market and showcasing our impact on the publishing indu...
13/03/2025
At Spotify, we work every day to lift up new voices, giving creators the opportunity to live off their art. Through Spotify Audiobooks, our in-house publishing ...
12/03/2025
O Spotify acaba de lan ar o relat rio Loud & Clear deste ano, uma vis o transpar...
12/03/2025
Spotify acaba de presentar el informe Loud & Clear de este a o, una mirada trans...
12/03/2025
Ramadan, a period of profound spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide, is a time for fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Enrich your experience thi...
12/03/2025
Spotify has just unveiled this year's Loud & Clear report, a transparent loo...
11/03/2025
Salsa is making a comeback, captivating new listeners with its infectious energy...
11/03/2025
For many people, music can serve as a reflection of their roots and upbringing. ...