Blue Note Records Launches New Spotify App

by Dave Mainella

EMI, the parent company of famed jazz label Blue Note Records, announced today the release of an innovative new app within Spotify that emphasizes tradition and discovery.  The app, which can be downloaded from the Spotify app finder, features a massively in depth and visually stunning space to explore the label’s entire history – from 1939 to present.

Users can truly experience the broad depth of the Blue Note catalog, tracing its storied evolution from Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis’ 1939 album to last month’s release by Lionel Loueke.  The app is functionally designed in a way to encourage a user’s exploration by performer, album, style, instrument, and year.  It offers an easy entry for the novice listener into the rich history of jazz, and a complete, encyclopedic database for the aficionado.

“In the great tradition of Blue Note Records, our new Spotify app pushes the boundaries of the digital listening experience,” said Don Was, President of Blue Note Records. “Catering to both the educated aficionado and new fans alike, this innovative interface provides music fans with a clean, user-friendly doorway to hours of discovery and musical gratification.”

The app opens to its Timeline homepage, which chronologically lists all the Blue Note titles available on Spotify.  A quick selection on the left determines the range of years, and a slider guides the user through them.  The original cover artwork for each album glides across the screen as you scroll through history.

Clicking on an album reveals a track list and a succinct description of the recording.  It also displays a “Featuring” column that describes most of the the albums’ personnel.  Selecting each individual performer reveals even more in-depth information, as well as similar artists and other releases they appear on.

The “Filter” feature allows users to select specific instruments and styles to explore.  The Blue Note 101 dives deeper into the stylistic categories of “Tradition”, “Groove”, and “Voices”, supplying general information, suggested artists, and example tracks.

Blue Note also partnered with the website Who Sampled, a hip-hop sample database, to display side-by-side songs that sample Blue Note recordings.  The feature lists the original recording next to the derivative work, and it offers a search function as well.

The Spotify user still has the ability to create playlists and to share tracks with friends.

“Blue Note is virtually synonymous with jazz music and their new app is a great example of music experts taking advantage of the Spotify platform to foster deep music discovery and appreciation,” said Steve Savoca, Head of Content at Spotify. “Our passionate users now have a curated experience to guide them through the vast amount of jazz music on Spotify.”