Spotify has just taken a historic step by launching its first exclusive streaming concert, and it does so with one of the most iconic artists of the last decade: The Weeknd. The platform has premiered the concert-film Billions Club Live with The Weeknd directly on its app, marking a new era in the way we experience digital music.
A Unique Concert for a Unique Artist
Billions Club Live with The Weeknd: A Concert Film is an event like no other. Filmed during a magical night on December 17 in a hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, this exclusive concert brought together more than 1,700 of the singer’s most loyal listeners to enjoy an unforgettable repertoire. Among the songs performed were hits that have reached billions of plays such as “Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” “Earned It,” “I Feel It Coming” and “Save Your Tears. “
A Perfect Alliance: The Weeknd and Spotify
According to Marc Hazan, Spotify’s vice president of marketing and partnerships, The Weeknd was the perfect candidate to headline this inaugural event. “We seem to have grown up together. If you look at the timeline of The Weeknd and Spotify, they’re closely linked. He came on the scene at the same time we did,” Hazan explained in an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
The concert celebrates a special milestone: 25 of The Weeknd’s songs have made it into Spotify’s exclusive Billions Club, a list reserved for songs that have reached one billion plays on the platform. In addition, the artist holds the record for the most played song on Spotify, “Blinding Lights,” which has redefined contemporary pop music.
Spotify Evolves: From Auditory to Visual
The release of this film is not just a one-off event, but a statement of intent on Spotify’s part. “Video is becoming a bigger part of the Spotify experience,” comments Hazan. “We want to create incredible moments with artists, and bring those moments not just to those in the room, but to our entire platform.”
This move is also part of a broader trend within Spotify, which has integrated videos into podcasts and is testing the inclusion of music videos. According to Hazan, this evolution turns Spotify into a place where content consumption moves from being exclusively auditory to a full multimedia experience: “It’s a journey that transforms the platform into something that connects both your ears and your eyes.”
A New Era for The Weeknd Fans
Available in nearly all markets, the concert film offers a 48-minute experience filled with music, emotion and the artist’s personal reflections on his career and his connection with his fans.
In addition, the next few months will be crucial for The Weeknd, who is set to release his new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, on January 24. This album will serve as the closing of his trilogy of albums that began with After Hours (2020) and continued with Dawn FM (2022). The release will be followed by a one-off concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena the next day. As if that weren’t enough, the artist will also make his debut as the star and producer in a thriller titled Hurry Up Tomorrow, which will hit theaters on May 16.
Spotify and The Weeknd: Reinventing the Future of Streaming
With Billions Club Live with The Weeknd: A Concert Film, Spotify not only celebrates one of the most influential artists of his generation, but also redefines the way we experience music in the digital age. This is just the beginning of a new era for the streaming platform, where visuals and audio merge to create unique and unforgettable experiences.
Are you ready to live this new era? Billions Club Live with The Weeknd is now available exclusively on Spotify. Don’t miss it!
