Spotify GLOW will Promote Queer Musicians Year-Round

“Being queer myself and having struggled to come to this point where I feel safe and confident in being who I am, this is a very special moment to me.” This statement by global music programs and social equity lead for Spotify, Bel Aztiria, was made as part of the launch party on Tuesday, January 24, for Spotify GLOW.

Spotify GLOW promises to support and promote queer artists across the platform and in advertising, featuring artists such as Leland, Liniker, Sam Smith, and Tove Lo on billboards across the US as well as on a featured playlist highlighting new music from queer artists.

In addition to changes on the platform, Spotify GLOW will provide songwriting workshops and marketing support for artists, as well as facilitate charitable giving to nonprofits like QORDS, Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, and It Gets Better, among others.

A panel discussion at the launch party featured Leland, Miki Ratsula, Isaac Dunbar, and Arlissa. They discussed the first songwriting workshop in Los Angeles, and the sense of community and freedom that came with it. “There is a unique sense of freedom in saying exactly what you want to fucking say,” says Leland, a prolific songwriter whose work has been featured everywhere from RuPaul’s Drag Race to Love, Victor.

Arlissa and Isaac Dunbar both spoke on their experiences as queer, Black creators. Arlissa says, “The world was not made for people like us. Every single day, we take the time to look within ourselves and pour out and heal ourselves. So, when you go into a room and you create music… (and) you’re doing that with people who know what it’s like… It’s safety. It’s community.”

Miki Ratsula echoes this sentiment of community and mentions that they feel that same sense when performing a specific song for their audiences, one about them realizing their desire for top surgery. “Whenever I play that song live, I have this moment with the crowd that’s like, ‘I’m sorry if you relate to this song, but at least we can heal together in this moment when I’m singing it.’ If I was in that crowd then, when I was younger, I probably would have saved myself from a lot of dark places.”

And this is why things like Spotify GLOW are so important. Rainbow capitalism or not, it is vital that young people–especially young, queer people or young people of color–see people like themselves thriving. The Spotify GLOW playlist is available right now, and at the time of writing, features 80 songs by 80 different artists such as Ethel Cain, girl in red, and aforementioned panelists Arlissa and Leland.