Spotify Tees Up a Splashy SXSW Shindig—And ‘You Oughta Know’ the Marquee Performer

Photo Credit: Alanis Morissette by Raph_PH / CC by 4.0

Spotify celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a birthday bash at SXSW featuring Alanis Morissette, Ella Langley, and St. Vincent.

Spotify turns 20 in April, and to celebrate, the Stockholm streaming giant is holding an event at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, featuring headliner Alanis Morissette. Other performances include Ella Langley, St. Vincent, and conversations with Lainey Wilson and Nick Jonas.

“We’re kicking things off at Stubb’s on Saturday, March 14, with Spotify 20: Live at Stubb’s, an official SXSW concert open to platinum and music badgeholders,” reads Spotify’s announcement.

According to Spotify, its SXSW lineup “pairs voices that have shaped the last two decades of music with artists defining what comes next.” To that end, Morissette, Langley, and St. Vincent are well-suited to the task; Morissette’s 1998 album Jagged Little Pill has become one of the best-selling albums of all time.

Langley is just now reaching industry heights with her latest single, “Choosin’ Texas,” spending two weeks at the top of the Hot 100 chart this year. Meanwhile, St. Vincent has been regarded as an innovator in her genre and generation for over a decade now.

Spotify will also host events throughout the week that “bring together artists, creators, partners, and industry voices to look at the culture of music discovery and the future of listening.”

Aside from the musical performances, Spotify co-CEO Gustav Söderström will join Lainey Wilson and podcast host David Friedberg for a panel discussion. Dustee Jenkins, Spotify’s chief public affairs officer, will have a similar discussion with Nick Jonas, who will premiere his upcoming film, “Power Ballad,” at the festival.

There will also be “brands and creator dialogues” on shared listening culture; a Spotify for Artists Masterclass featuring “practical tools for navigating today’s industry;” and a “Heart & Soul wellness space” in the SXSW Artist Lounge in partnership with Backline. The latter aims to offer artists and managers space to recharge and support their mental wellbeing during a busy week of performances and meetings.

Spotify has also launched an official playlist to celebrate its SXSW bash.