
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
11/07/2025
If you've ever wondered what might be playing in Clark Kent's headphones...
10/07/2025
Spotify is turning up the volume on Australian music with a multipronged initiative designed to highlight the dominance of Australian artists on the global stag...
10/07/2025
This is not a drill: Oasis is back on the road-marking its first live performanc...
10/07/2025
The music industry depends on fresh ideas, bold voices, and emerging talent. Yet across the U.K., too many young musicians lack the space to develop their craft...
08/07/2025
This summer, as the energy builds for one of the biggest moments in women's ...
04/07/2025
The Summer Reading Challenge has inspired children across the U.K. to embrace a ...
30/06/2025
There's nothing quite like the magic of finding music that feels made just f...
30/06/2025
When it comes to new music, Spotify's team of editors across North America is always on the hunt for songs that make them feel, think, and move. They're...
27/06/2025
K-Pop remains one of the biggest genres globally, and many fans just can't get enough of it. That's why Spotify has launched a new series of K-Pop perf...
25/06/2025
Last week, content creators from all over the world flocked to Anaheim for VidCon 2025, one of the largest creator conferences in the U.S. As an official sponso...
24/06/2025
Last week, Spotify returned to the Croisette for our 11th year at the Cannes Lio...
20/06/2025
In just a few days, the pilgrimage to Worthy Farm begins. Glastonbury, the legen...
19/06/2025
On Wednesday, Spotify and Miley Cyrus tangoed in Paris during an unforgettable e...
18/06/2025
Since popping up in 2020, RADAR Italia has not only supported emerging artists but also reflected the cultural and musical richness of Italy. Over the past five...
17/06/2025
In South Africa, the rebirth and resurgence of the vibrant folk genre Maskandi has captured the attention of music fans, becoming the country's fastest-grow...
16/06/2025
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is officially underway for...
16/06/2025
On Spotify, francophone content continues to cross borders at an unprecedented rate. In 2024 alone, more than 123 million listeners worldwide streamed audio con...
13/06/2025
Photo credit: Atsushi Nishijima
If you're a true lover of rom-coms, chances...
12/06/2025
In 2018, Spotify launched Heart & Soul, a mental health initiative developed to ...
11/06/2025
When a music fan creates a playlist on Spotify, it's not just for listening-...
11/06/2025
Hur s krar vi Europas konkurrenskraft i en tid av snabb teknikutveckling? Och hur rustar vi samh llet f r framtidens kompetensbehov inom AI, tech och kultur? Un...
11/06/2025
Spotify and ENHYPEN are inviting fans to step inside the world of DESIRE : UNLEA...
10/06/2025
A new generation of artists is redefining Morocco's pop music scene, blending their deep-rooted heritage with contemporary influences to create sounds that ...
10/06/2025
Since Audiobooks in Premium launched on Spotify in 2023, we've seen strong g...
09/06/2025
It was Thursday night in New York City and The Box was buzzing with excitement. The edgy nightclub, known for its lavish theatrics, provided the perfect backdro...
06/06/2025
Spotify is dedicated to lifting up the voices and contributions of all artists, creators, and authors. This Pride Month and beyond, we're also taking a mome...
06/06/2025
Spotify is heading back to France for the annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and this year we'll showcase how Spotify is more alive t...
05/06/2025
Whether she's in the studio, on a tour bus, or traveling the world, there...
05/06/2025
Spotify and United are teaming up to deliver an even more entertaining in-flight...
05/06/2025
On Wednesday, Spotify brought together Mexico's vibrant podcast community fo...
05/06/2025
Last month, Spotify brought Travis Scott to Barcelona to play his first-ever show in the city and celebrate the release of his Spotify x Cactus Jack x Bar a jer...
04/06/2025
Today, Spotify launches its Loud & Clear report-our annual deep dive into the economics of music streaming-in Canada, and with it, a powerful story of how Canad...
29/05/2025
Japan's music scene is entering an exciting new chapter. Long known for its ...
28/05/2025
Spotify is all about bringing you closer to the voices and stories you love. Tha...
28/05/2025
A ind stria musical do Brasil est passando por uma transforma o hist rica - e o Spotify segue iluminando esse caminho. A vers o mais recente do relat rio Loud...
28/05/2025
Brazil's music industry is in the midst of a historic transformation-and Spotify continues to help illuminate the path. Our most recent Loud & Clear report,...
28/05/2025
Spotify's commitment to transparency and artist empowerment continues to res...
21/05/2025
When CMA Fest springs to life in Nashville each year, Spotify House is always one of the top destinations-and 2025 was no different. For the sixth year, Spotify...
21/05/2025
Marking a first, Spotify has launched the Upcoming Releases hub-a destination so...
20/05/2025
Throughout the month of May, Spotify is celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by amplifying the many artists, creators, and authors who share th...
20/05/2025
It's officially summer on Spotify and, once again, our team of best-in-class...
19/05/2025
For the past decade, Spotify's Fresh Finds playlists have served as a launchpad for emerging independent artists, helping them break through and connect wit...
17/05/2025
Globally, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists, creators, and authors contin...
16/05/2025
As Beyonc s COWBOY CARTER Tour sparks excitement around the world, Spotify is helping the BeyHive get concert-ready with a limited-edition collection of playli...
14/05/2025
Spotify and FC Barcelona's partnership saw its sixth jersey takeover this we...
14/05/2025
At Spotify, we believe that our incredible bandmates (that's what we call our team) are the driving force behind our success. Longtime Spotifier Anna Lundst...
13/05/2025
Spotify aims to bring compelling audiobooks to as many consumers as possible, and we're eager to give fans even more options as they discover their next gre...
13/05/2025
People all over the world love DJ. At the gym, at home, whenever and wherever you want a deeper experience with great music, DJ is the answer. In fact, DJ liste...
09/05/2025
As excitement builds for the annual Eurovision Song Contest, Spotify data offers...
07/05/2025
Discovering music should feel effortless and fun. That's why Spotify continu...