The Weeknd's Concert Film Makes Exclusive 48-Hour Debut on Spotify Amid Video Push
The Weeknd debuts an exclusive 45-minute concert film on Spotify, marking a significant expansion in the platform's video content strategy. The special, part of the "Billions Club: The Series," celebrates artists achieving one billion streams on a single track.
The Weeknd performing in concert
Unlike previous six-minute episodes featuring Ed Sheeran and Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd's extended special, produced by OBB Pictures, represents a strategic shift in Spotify's content approach. The pre-recorded concert, filmed in Los Angeles, includes artist voiceovers and will remain exclusive to Spotify for 48 hours.
The special prominently features at the top of Spotify searches for The Weeknd, who boasts 117 million monthly listeners. However, this video expansion brings several challenges:
- Content categorization issues as concert films are grouped under "podcasts"
- Growing concerns about content quality and moderation
- Questions about what constitutes a podcast in the platform's ecosystem
- Competition with YouTube, which recently became the leading podcast platform in the US
Spotify's video strategy now includes various content types:
- Concert films and music specials
- Full TV show episodes through partnerships like Cineverse
- User-generated content through the Partner Program
- Traditional video podcasts
While Spotify continues its aggressive video expansion, concerns persist about content moderation, creator revenue sharing, and the platform's ability to maintain quality standards across its growing video offerings.
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