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    Spotify launches bizarre playlist from whacky global artist after shock rise in record sales

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    MUSIC fans can now celebrate a true global artist who has been around for millions of years — Mother Nature.She has been given her own page on Spotify, boasting a biodiverse playlist including piggy noises and tropical birdsong.Mother Nature has been given her own page on SpotifyCredit: GettyPossible colabs for Mother NatureMusical artists have been freely using sounds from the ecosystem for decades, effectively sponging off the planet.But now they can collaborate with an accredited artist — called “Nature” with she/her pronouns — and generate funds for conservation projects.Ellie Goulding is among artists already on board, with her track Brightest Blue remixed to feature Colombian rainforests.A new version of David Bowie’s Get Real also includes cries from hyenas and wild pigs, while London Grammar and Brian Eno are also on the new playlist.READ MORE MUSIC NEWSLaunched ahead of Earth Day next Monday, it is part of the UN’s Sounds Right campaign which hopes to raise £32million.Other acts to have collaborated with Nature for the new initiative which launched yesterday ahead of Earth Day next Monday include V from the K-pop group BTS.Cathy Runciman, co-executive director of the music industry’s climate foundation EarthPercent, said: “It’s been fantastic to see so many brilliant artists excited to engage creatively with the sounds of nature and supportive of Sounds Right’s core objective to see that nature is fairly compensated for her musical contributions.“We know that many artists care deeply about protecting and restoring nature and it’s a privilege to launch these collaborations via the Feat. NATURE playlist and together generate positive impact for biodiversity.Most read in MusicThe popular music streaming giant recently announced that subscriptions are rising by up to £2 per month.Among those investments in recent years is the introduction of audiobooks.Spotify’s new AI feature lets you ask it to make any playlist for you – but there’s a trick to finding it in the app More

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      in entertainment and celebrities

      Taylor Swift hits another massive milestone less than a month into 2024

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      IT’S New Year, new record for Taylor Swift.Despite only being days into 2024, the I Knew You Were Trouble singer has already broken another massive record.
      Taylor Swift has managed to get one billion streams on Spotify in 2024 – managing to pull it off in less than two weeksCredit: Getty
      Taylor, 34, has become the first act to hit one billion streams on Spotify in 2024.
      The feat is seriously impressive – especially because she pulled it off in less than two weeks.
      Taylor hasn’t released any new music since 1989 Taylor’s Version in October, 2023.
      The re-record, complete with five new Vault tracks, saw her outsell the original 2014 album and bag another UK No1 album.
      READ MORE ON TAYLOR SWIFT
      It was also the best selling vinyl of the year.
      According to data from Luminate, a massive one in 78 US streams in 2023 were of a Taylor Swift track.
      And things are only set to get bigger for Taylor – if that’s even possible.
      The Bad Blood singer is set to announce her long awaited re-record of her 2017 album Reputation.
      Most read in Bizarre
      The album is Taylor’s most provocative record – with tracks about her infamous feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
      Taylor is currently enjoying a well earned break after huge 12 months.
      She has regularly been seen cheering on boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs ace Travis Kelce, 34, at his games.
      Taylor will kick off the next leg of her massive Eras Tour next month in Japan with four nights at Tokyo Dome.
      The global trek will finally reach the UK in June – kicking off in Edinburgh in June.
      She will also play eight nights at London’s Wembley Stadium. More

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      in entertainment and celebrities

      Rita Ora, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lily Allen reveal their Spotify Wrapped playlists as Taylor Swift and Dave triumph

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      YES, it’s that time of the year again, when Spotify Wrapped shows streamers who they have been listening to and for how long.The individualised charts, generated by listening habits, give Spotify subscribers a personalised roll-out of their sonic year.
      Taylor Swift was the UK’s most streamed singer of 2023Credit: Getty
      Flowers by Miley Cyrus was the top streamed song globallyCredit: Getty
      Rita Ora’s Spotify Wrapped’s most played artist was . . . herselfCredit: PA
      And they revealed that Rita Ora’s own most played artist was . . . herself, coming ahead of Bruce Springsteen.
      The singer took to her Instagram stories to share her completely un-narcissistic favourites to her 16million followers.
      As well as being her own most played artist, her recent single Praising You, featuring Fatboy Slim, also topped her most listened to singles.
      Rita Ora has been keeping Rita Ora busy.
      READ MORE MUSIC NEWS
      She wrote: “Me and the flute have been killing it this year. lol.”
      While Sprinter, by Gen Z Brit rapper Dave — nope, me neither — was the UK’s most played single, Taylor Swift was our most streamed singer of 2023.
      Her record Midnights topped the album charts, while, incredibly, she also slipped in at No5 with Lover, originally released four years ago.
      Brit entrants included Harry Styles (No3 with Harry’s House) and the Arctic Monkeys, in at No4 with AM.
      Most read in Music
      In the artists category, Ed Sheeran, a man we’ve all heard of, creeps in at No5.
      Globally, Taylor Swift unseated Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny after a three-year reign as the service’s most-steamed act. He drops to No2.
      Podcasts are also taken into account and, look away Harry and Meghan, Archetypes failed to chart.
      Depressingly, Joe Rogan was the UK’s most listened to broadcaster, with his alt-right conspiracy theory sessions on The Joe Rogan Experience beating Steven Bartlett’s Diary Of A CEO.

      Laura Ferguson, Spotify head of global marketing experience, describes the annual lists, now in their tenth year, as, “Almost like election night”.
      Unquestionably, it is the cultural event of the year for anyone under 40.
      Actually, sod it, I’m 41 and I still excitedly “unwrapped” my personal highlights yesterday . . . only to discover I have the musical tastes of a 14-year- old schoolgirl.
      Harry Styles’ album Harry’s House was the UK’s third most streamed recordCredit: AFP
      Ed Sheeran was the UK’s fifth most streamed artistCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Lily Allen was among the celebs sharing their Spotify Wrapped screenshotsCredit: Splash
      Taylor, then, was my most played artist while, apparently, April was a particularly busy month for her track Anti-hero, which I played, on loop, more than is probably healthy.
      I listened to 3,379 songs in total, with Spotify telling me: “2023 was a feast for my ears.” My ears, then, also lapped up Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Pink and The Weeknd.
      Cool, I am not.
      Celebs, however, were quick to bolster their eclectic credentials, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Lily Allen and Charli XCX all sharing their Spotify screenshots.
      Not surprisingly, theirs were considerably more respectable.Until next year . . . 
      TOP ARTISTS IN THE UK

      Taylor Swift
      Drake
      The Weeknd
      Arctic Monkeys
      Ed Sheeran

      TOP SONGS IN THE UK

      Sprinter, by Dave and Central Cee
      Flowers, by Miley Cyrus
      Kill Bill, by SZA
      Boy’s A Liar Pt 2, by Pink Pantheress & Ice Spice
      Escapism, by RAYE feat. 070 Shake

      TOP ALBUMS IN THE UK

      Midnights, by Taylor Swift
      SOS, by SZA
      Harry’s House, by Harry Styles
      AM, by Arctic Monkeys
      Lover, by Taylor Swift

      TOP PODCASTS IN THE UK

      The Joe Rogan Experience
      The Diary Of A CEO with Stephen Bartlett
      Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
      Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe’s Parenting Hell
      Call Her Daddy

      TOP ARTISTS GLOBALLY

      Taylor Swift
      Bad Bunny
      The Weeknd
      Drake
      Peso Pluma

      TOP SONGS GLOBALLY

      Flowers, by Miley Cyrus
      Kill Bill, by SZA
      As It Was, by Harry Styles
      Seven by Jungkook feat. Latto
      Ella Bella Sola, by Armado & Peso Pluma

      Read More on The Sun
      TOP ALBUMS GLOBALLY

      Un Verano Sin, by Bad Bunny
      Midnights by Taylor Swift
      SOS, by SZA
      Starboy by The Weeknd
      Manana Sera Bonito by Karol G

      TOP PODCASTS GLOBALLY

      The Joe Rogan Experience
      Call Her Daddy
      Huberman Lab
      Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain
      On Purpose with Jay Shetty More

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      in lifestyle and culture

      5 things Zayn Malik opened up about in his first public interview after six years

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      Emirates Man

      by Ruman Baig
      4 hours ago

      Pakistani-British singer, Zayn Malik, is known for being notoriously private. His first public appearance in six years allowed his fans to get a glimpse of the man beneath the mystery.
      At all 17, Zayn Malik became an overnight sensation with four other British boys when One Direction was born. Thanks to Simon Cowell, The X Factor judge of the time who spotted these talented boys and clubbed them together in a band.

      After tasting the height of success and fame at an early age, Zayn was the first to venture out alone. His journey as a solo artist hasn’t been like that of a regular pop star — the Pillow Talk singer, despite the success he found in his solo stint, decided to step away from the limelight when it cost his mental health.

      In a modern world, where fame is fleeting and icons are always changing, it is refreshing to see an artist who is purely around for the love of the art. Recently, the 30-year-old singer appeared as a guest on Alex Cooper’s popular podcast, “Call Her Daddy” before the release of his summer single, “Love Like This” where he opened up about his life in the last few years and the reason behind reappearing in front of the world.

      In an hour-long conversation with Alex, the Dust Till Dawn singer covered a lot of grey areas and speculations around his life. Here are the top 5 things that stood out in this interview.
      Why he left the band
      It broke the hearts of millions of fans when Zayn Malik decided to leave the beloved British band, One Direction. Although everyone knows what happened next, nobody knew what led to it. Shedding the light on this turning point of his life, the singer said, “I had been thinking about it for a hot minute. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, there’s a lot of politics, pressure and I decided to come ahead of it by taking this decision. It might sound cheesy, but before I quit the band, I called up my mum and asked if she still got a bed for me back home and when said come back home son, I went ahead and did it. also, as an artist, I wanted to make music about more mature and deeper stuff which wasn’t necessarily the demographic of the band.”
      How becoming a parent changed him
      Zayn shares a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Khai, with his supermodel ex Gigi Hadid. The former couple welcomed this daughter in September 2020, after which they split in 2021 and have been co-parenting her ever since. “As an adult, your life tends to become grey and monotonous, she added the colour back into her life. I have my daughter with me for 50% of the time and when she is with me, all of my time is dedicated to her.”
      Dealing with anxiety in the present
      Even at the pinnacle of his fame, Zayn was one of the few artists who was vocal about his mental health struggles. Whether it was about cancelling his musical tours or stepping away from the overwhelming world of fame. Today, as he is about to share new music with his fans, he is also making an attempt to reconnect with the world. “I am doing this for my daughter, learning how to deal with my anxiety and speaking in public. I want her to know that her dad can overcome his fears and do things and set that example for her.”
      Importance of leading a quiet life
      Unlike other celebrities who live in LA or New York, the StoryOf My Life singer chose to raise his daughter in Pennsylvania. Away from the hustle-bustle and the shutterbugs, he prefers to protect the privacy of his child by giving her a normal life. “She didn’t choose this life, I did. I at least want her to have an option in the future. I am able to do normal things with my daughter here, which would be difficult to do with cameras flashing all the time. It’s a quiet life with a lot of farm animals. I have three cats, three dog, three turtles and six chickens.”
      Remaining unfazed by the media narrative
      After his breakup with ex-Gigi, the media was quick to build a narrative positioning him as the bad guy. According to many news outlets, the breakup was a result of an altercation between the singer and his partner’s mother, reality star, Yolanda Hadid. Although, neither of the parties confirmed the incident, the internet held him accountable. While sensitively bringing up the subject during the podcast, Alex asked him if there was any merit to the rumour and did it affect his share in custody. Respecting all the parties involved, he cleared the air. “I have 50% custody of my daughter and it wouldn’t have been the case if things said in the media were true. I don’t believe in giving explanations about myself, especially to people who don’t know me. The people who do, know what happened. It was a family matter and I wanted to address it privately. I didn’t want my daughter to grow up reading this as a subject that was discussed in public.”
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Instagram @zayn_br and @onedirection More

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      in lifestyle and culture

      An exclusive interview with Emirati rapper Almas

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      Lifestyle

      by Sarah Joseph
      2 hours ago

      August 28, 2022 marks the seventh annual Emirati Women’s Day to applaud women across different professional career paths.
      One such arena in which Emirati women are shattering stereotypes is the music industry. Defying the conventional walls of music, the Emirati singer and rapper, Almas is creating tracks to inspire women with similar interests.
      After accomplishing numerous achievements at such a young age such as performing at Expo 2020 at 21 years old, she became the ambassador of Spotify’s Equal Arabia programme this month. This global music forum aims to amplify the work of women creators and encourage fans to discover them from any part of the world.
      To celebrate this success, she was even published on a billboard in the heart of New York’s Times Square with her track reaching the global playlist.
      “I would like to see more women in the rap scene and I am willing to support them as well,” she tells Emirates Woman. “We are queens and we deserve it.”
      By contributing to the UAE’s burgeoning hip-hop movement, Almas has been showcasing her creativity in the music industry through tracks that are receiving international recognition.
      With a passion for music since a young age, Emirates Woman spoke to Almas to understand what drives her and inspired her to enter the industry.
      What inspired you to become a singer?
      I was inspired by my love for music. I have loved music and singing since I was a child and have always had a passion for performing.
      You started your career at the age of 15. How has the industry evolved since then?
      I have been evolving my music style since I started writing my own music in 2020. I believe that we should not tie ourselves to one thing, we should continue exploring and elevating ourselves.
      You performed at Expo 2020 Dubai at just 21 years old. How did that feel?
      It was an indescribable feeling. I was nervous but proud of myself at the same time for being able to get to the Expo 2020 stage and sing in front of musical legends such as Hussein AlJasmi, Ahlam and Mohamed Abdo.
      Spotify is always championing young women to pursue their dreams. How has this played a key role in finding a space in the music world in your career?
      Spotify helped me find myself surrounded by the right people who are always working on themselves. I felt connected to the right network of women creators when I first joined their initiative SAWTIK and now with EQUAL Arabia, I am on Times Square, where a global audience is seeing my face and name.

      Equal Arabia under Spotify was born to amplify the work of women creators. How does it feel to be part of such a platform and what do you wish to achieve?
      I feel so proud that they chose me to be a part of EQUAL Arabia. It’s an important moment for me, because it’s a reminder that we can achieve anything if we set our minds to it.
      You’re a female rapper. How important was it for you to shatter any stereotypes about this?
      I am doing something for myself, and I believe that women can do anything they want, not just in the rap scene but beyond.
      What advice would you share to young Emirati women aspiring to be a singer?
      My advice to her would be to continue doing what she’s doing and work on herself until she finds herself on the right path.
      Being a woman in the music industry can be challenging. How did you overcome this?
      The struggles are always there but I am always capable of overcoming challenges. You just have to keep going.
      Who is your role model in the music industry?
      My role model is the band Pink Floyd.
      Could you share the story behind your latest song releases?
      In my latest track ‘Coffee’, I was singing in many dialects and languages and was speaking about my power in the scene.
      With Emirati Women’s Day soon approaching. What changes would you like to see in the music industry for women?
      I would like to see more women in the rap scene and I am willing to support them as well. We are queens and we deserve it.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
      Images: Supplied  More