Last month, Spotify launched Running Mode for Premium subscribers on iOS, creating personalised running sessions around a listener’s workout, pace and music taste. Now, the feature is expanding to Android users in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden.

Alongside the Android rollout, Spotify has shared some early insights into how listeners are using Running Mode, from the music they choose to the tempos they set for their sessions.

What is Spotify Running Mode

Running Mode creates a personalised soundtrack around the type of run a listener wants to do. Users can choose a workout format, set a session length, pick a genre and adjust the tempo to suit their pace.

Spotify then builds a session around those choices, selecting music to match the energy and rhythm of the workout. There are also options for discovering new music, customising the prompt behind the playlist and adding audio coaching.

What’s new with Running Mode?

The biggest update is its expansion to Android, bringing Running Mode to more Premium subscribers just weeks after its initial iOS launch.

Spotify has also shared some early data on how people are using the feature, giving us a better idea of what runners are looking for from their personalised sessions.

One of the key findings is the popularity of 160 BPM. This is currently the most selected tempo in Running Mode’s Beat Matching setting, which lets runners choose a target BPM for their session.

Spotify says some users are opting for 170 to 180 BPM when aiming for a faster cadence. Once a target is selected, Running Mode chooses music to match it, with the option to adjust a song’s speed to maintain the chosen tempo or keep tracks at their original speed.

It’s an interesting example of Spotify using the characteristics of music to shape listening around a specific activity. Tempo might not be something most listeners think about when choosing what to stream, but it becomes much more relevant when the music is being used to support a particular pace.

What are runners listening to?

Spotify’s early data also gives us a glimpse at the genres proving most popular in Running Mode.

House and Rap are currently the top choices, followed by Rock, Hip Hop and Electronic.

These aren’t necessarily genres Spotify is prioritising within Running Mode. Listeners choose the type of music they want, and Spotify builds their session around those preferences.

There is also plenty of room for discovery. Users can adjust Running Mode towards new music rather than sticking with familiar favourites, potentially introducing them to artists they haven’t heard before.

Where is Running Mode most popular?

Spotify has also revealed its top 10 cities based on Running Mode usage:

1. Washington, D.C.
2. New York
3. Boston
4. San Francisco
5. Chicago
6. Charlotte
7. Oakland
8. Houston
9. Milwaukee
10. Austin

The list reflects Running Mode usage rather than the overall number of runners in each city, but it offers an early snapshot of where the feature is gaining traction.

With Android now bringing Running Mode to a wider audience, these trends could change as more listeners start using the feature.

What does Running Mode mean for artists?

Running Mode isn’t a new playlist submission opportunity, and Spotify hasn’t suggested that artists can influence which tracks are selected.

What it does show is another way Spotify is using personalisation to shape music discovery around specific activities. For artists, that means there are more contexts in which a track can potentially be heard without someone actively searching for it.

There’s no specific strategy for getting music into Running Mode. The important thing is simply having your catalogue available on Spotify and keeping your releases accessible to listeners as Spotify continues developing these personalised experiences.

Distribute your music to Spotify and all major streaming platforms around the world with RouteNote. Sign up today to get started.

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The global recorded-music market could be worth $121.1 billion by 2033, according to a new forecast from MIDiA Research.

That would represent almost $47 billion in additional retail revenue compared with 2025, when the market was worth $74.3 billion.

But the forecast isn’t simply about more people paying for streaming. MIDiA expects the next phase of music industry growth to come from a broader mix of markets, platforms and ways for fans to spend money on music. For independent artists and labels, that could create more opportunities to find listeners and build audiences around the world.

MIDiA forecasts a $121.1 billion recorded-music market

MIDiA Research’s latest 2026-2033 global music forecasts predict that global recorded-music retail revenue will grow from $74.3 billion in 2025 to $121.1 billion in 2033.

That is an increase of almost $47 billion over eight years. MIDiA says growth will not be evenly distributed, however, with some markets and revenue streams expanding much faster than others.

It’s also important to clarify what this $121.1 billion figure actually measures. Music Ally notes that MIDiA’s figure is based on retail revenues, rather than the trade revenues reported in the IFPI’s annual recorded-music figures. 

MIDiA also forecasts global recorded-music trade revenue to reach $62.7 billion by 2033, although it expects retail revenue to grow faster as streaming services take a larger share of the overall revenue generated by music.

The wider picture is consistent with other long-term forecasts. Goldman Sachs Research expects the global music industry as a whole to approach $200 billion in revenue by 2035, up from $105 billion in 2024, although its methodology and market definition differ from MIDiA’s.

Where will the next $47 billion come from?

MIDiA’s forecast isn’t suggesting that the existing music markets will simply get bigger. A significant part of the growth is expected to come from new listeners and developing music markets.

The research predicts that the Global South will continue gaining subscribers, increasing its share of the global market by 8.5 percentage points by 2033.

MIDiA expects India to become the third-largest country in the world for music subscribers by 2033, behind China and the US.

That doesn’t mean India will generate the third-highest subscription revenue. MIDiA forecasts the US, China, UK, Germany and Japan will remain the five biggest markets for subscription revenue, with the same five countries occupying those positions as in 2025.

MIDiA also expects the wider fan economy to grow from $11.3 billion in 2025 to $18.5 billion by 2033. This includes revenue from physical music, merchandise, live events, brand partnerships and non-DSP streaming across areas such as social, fitness and gaming. 

What does the forecast mean for independent artists?

The biggest takeaway isn’t that artists should start planning for 2033. It’s that the opportunities available to independent artists today could become even more global over the next decade.

Global growth also means artists need to think beyond their home market. 

You don’t necessarily need to move to a new country or radically change your sound to benefit from this. Instead, artists can make sure their music is easy to discover wherever new listeners are emerging.

Digital distribution has already removed many of the geographical barriers that once stood between artists and international audiences. An independent artist can release music from their bedroom and make it available to listeners in the US, India, Brazil, Japan, the UK and countless other markets without needing a traditional record deal.

As the global listener base expands, being available in more markets becomes increasingly valuable. RouteNote helps artists and labels distribute music to major streaming services worldwide, allowing independent artists and labels to reach listeners around the world.

The next era of music will be bigger than streaming

MIDiA’s $121.1 billion forecast is ultimately a sign of an industry that is still evolving.

Streaming has transformed recorded music over the past decade, but the next stage of growth looks increasingly global and increasingly connected to the wider fan experience.

More subscribers will come from emerging markets. Streaming will continue to generate revenue. Social, gaming and fitness platforms will play a bigger role in how people interact with music. And artists will have more ways to turn listeners into dedicated fans.

For independent musicians and labels, that creates a simple opportunity: build an audience that can travel with you across platforms and borders.

Getting your music onto the world’s major platforms is the first step. Understanding where your listeners are, continuing to release consistently and finding ways to turn casual listeners into genuine fans can help you make the most of the expanding global music market.

And if MIDiA’s forecast is right, there could be a lot more listeners out there waiting to discover your music.

Distribute your music to major streaming platforms everywhere and reach listeners worldwide for free with RouteNote.

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Jim Yosef and Ro bring together dance pop, rock and cinematic EDM on “Mercy,” a melodic and emotionally charged release that bridges the producer’s earlier sound with a darker, more cinematic direction.

“Mercy” finds Jim Yosef embracing both familiarity and evolution. Built around super-catchy melodies and an emotive topline, the track combines the energy of dance pop with rock-influenced textures and cinematic EDM production, creating a sound that feels both accessible and expansive.

The release represents a deliberate meeting point between two eras of Jim Yosef’s artistry. Drawing from the melodic style that introduced his music to an established fanbase, “Mercy” simultaneously pushes towards a darker, more dramatic and rock-influenced sound. The result is a track that acknowledges where the project has come from while confidently exploring where it can go next.

At its heart, “Mercy” is driven by relatable themes and an emotional vocal performance, giving its polished electronic production a strong human element. The contrast between its catchy melodies and cinematic atmosphere allows the track to move naturally between moments of intimacy and bigger, more powerful electronic passages.

The release is also a distinctly independent one. “Mercy” has been released independently and promoted through Jim Yosef’s own network, including his YouTube channel, which has grown to more than 250,000 subscribers. Rather than relying on a conventional promotional campaign, the release highlights the strength of an established direct connection between an independent artist and their audience.

For long-time listeners, “Mercy” offers a familiar melodic thread while introducing a new chapter in Jim Yosef’s sound. For newer listeners, it provides an entry point into an evolving project that refuses to remain confined to a single genre.

With its blend of dance pop immediacy, rock influence and cinematic EDM scale, “Mercy” captures Jim Yosef and Ro at a point of transition, honouring the sound that brought listeners along for the journey while pushing forward into something darker, bigger and distinctly their own.

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Released August 14 via Hidden Mint Records, “Good Morning / Good Bye” brings together J-Pop producer Prod.Dex and Korean vocalist kimmore for a restrained, vocal-led track that captures the quiet intimacy of meeting and parting within a single day.

There is something inherently fleeting about a greeting in the morning and a goodbye at night. On “Good Morning / Good Bye,” Prod.Dex and kimmore turn that simple passage of time into the emotional centre of the song, compressing a full day of connection, reflection and separation into one understated arrangement.

Released August 14 through Hidden Mint Records, the track pairs restrained synth textures with kimmore’s expressive vocals, creating a soft, atmospheric sound that sits comfortably between K-Indie and J-Indie while retaining the melodic sensibility of contemporary J-Pop. Rather than relying on a heavily layered production, “Good Morning / Good Bye” allows space for the vocal to carry its emotional weight, giving the song an intimate and unhurried quality.

At the production helm is J-Pop producer Prod.Dex, whose work on Japanese game soundtracks has earned more than one million downloads. His credits include music for the Elchronicle series, establishing a background rooted in melodic, immersive compositions that complement the song’s understated approach.

Joining him is kimmore, the project of Korean vocalist Kim Jiwon, who first drew attention as an art-school student contestant on SBS audition programme Our Ballad. Her vocal performance brings a distinctly human warmth to the track, balancing Prod.Dex’s electronic production with a sense of closeness and vulnerability.

“Good Morning / Good Bye” will appeal to listeners drawn to the softer side of J-Pop, as well as audiences exploring the growing crossover between K-Indie and J-Indie. Its restrained synths and vocal-focused arrangement make it a natural fit for reflective listening, while its central theme, the bittersweet rhythm of coming together and saying goodbye, gives the track an emotional universality.

With Prod.Dex’s Japanese production background meeting kimmore’s Korean vocal identity, “Good Morning / Good Bye” offers a gentle meeting point between two neighbouring scenes, finding beauty in the small moments that mark the beginning and end of a day.

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Spotify is giving playlists another layer of personality with Playlist Notes, a new feature that lets people explain why particular tracks have been included. The update also brings notes from Spotify’s editorial team to some of its biggest playlists, giving listeners more insight into the thinking behind certain song picks.

Spotify editors can explain their playlist picks

The most notable part of the update for music discovery is Spotify bringing notes to its own editorial playlists.

Editors can explain why a track matters, what makes it culturally relevant or why it fits a particular playlist. Spotify is initially introducing the feature across major playlists including Today’s Top Hits, RapCaviar, Hot Country, All New Pop, mint and Fresh Finds Hip-Hop.

Spotify is also introducing Editor Profiles, where listeners can see an editor’s top tracks and albums as well as the playlists they contribute to.

For artists, this offers a little more visibility into the people behind Spotify’s editorial playlists. Playlist placement can often feel opaque from the outside, so giving listeners some context around individual selections could make editorial curation feel more personal.

Editor Notes and profiles are rolling out to Free and Premium users aged 16 and over in the UK, US, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Playlist Notes build on Spotify User Notes

The update follows Spotify’s recent User Notes feature, which was announced just a couple of weeks ago.

User Notes let listeners attach personal memories and thoughts to songs in playlists they own or manage. Playlist Notes expands that idea, allowing users to add context to tracks, podcast episodes and audiobooks within their playlists.

TechCrunch reports that user-created notes are rolling out on iOS and Android in more than 100 markets. Anyone who can view a playlist can also see its notes, with the creator’s name linked to their Spotify profile.

That makes playlists feel less like static tracklists and more like personal recommendations. A listener can explain why they included a song, introduce someone to an artist or give a little more context to a particular pick.

What does Playlist Notes mean for independent artists?

Playlist Notes won’t change how Spotify selects tracks for editorial playlists, but it does give artists another way to use playlists as part of their release strategy.

Rather than treating an artist playlist as just a collection of songs, you can use notes to explain the influences behind a release, share tracks that inspired an EP or introduce fans to music you’re listening to. That extra context can give listeners another reason to explore your recommendations and discover more of your music.

It also fits into Spotify’s wider move towards more personal music discovery. For artists, that means the story around a release can be just as useful as the release itself. Playlists, social content and behind-the-scenes posts can all give fans more reasons to connect with your music.

Distribute your music to Spotify and all major streaming platforms around the world with RouteNote. Sign up today to get started.

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