Spotify's latest feature, "Found Them First," allows listeners to discover if they are early adopters when it comes to new artists. The tool will scan your listening history to see if you were in the top 15% of the population listening to a "breakout" singer. To qualify as "breakout," an artist must have more than 20 million streams. In addition, the artist or band must have experienced a 2000% streaming growth rate between January 2013 and June 2015.
Spotify’s VP of creative and brand strategy, Jackie Jantos, explained, "This experience is an ode to the fans who truly love discovering new artists. Users are rewarded for listening early on, and earn some bragging rights." Several artists created videos thanking their initial Spotify supporters, and if your listening history qualifies you as an early adopter, you'll be able to watch these clips.
In the competitive world of streaming services, "Found Them First" is an interesting development. Apple Music emphasizes the power of its superstar curators, a top-down approach to music discovery. Spotify potentially suggests a more democratic alternative, as long as the bragging is kept to a minimum.