Spotify will be the official music streaming service partner for the 2023 Toronto Caribbean Carnival, with local DJ takeovers of some of its most popular playlists and its first Carnival event with Soca or Die.
Spotify will be the official music streaming service partner for the 2023 Toronto Caribbean Carnival, with local DJ takeovers of some of its most popular playlists and its first Carnival event with Soca or Die.
July 11, 2023 (Toronto, ON) - Today, Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, announces their official partnership with the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, recognizing and celebrating the profound influence of Caribbean culture in Canada. Under the banner of "Carnival Sounds," Spotify will showcase the captivating sounds of Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, and more, while amplifying the voices and stories of Caribbean artists, DJs, and creators. The partnership marks the first-ever sponsorship by a music streaming service for the Toronto Caribbean Carnival and represents Spotify Canada’s fourth consecutive year honouring Caribbean culture both on and off the platform.
“Spotify is at the center of music & culture. We're excited to capture the vibrant rhythms and rich heritage of the Caribbean through our partnership with the Toronto Caribbean Carnival,” said Shantel Noel, Artist & Label Partnerships, Spotify Canada. “‘Carnival Sounds' is a testament to our commitment to celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and provide a platform for artists, DJs, and creators to share their stories and artistic expressions with millions of listeners worldwide.”
Throughout July 11 to August 7, Spotify will curate a series of specially crafted playlists, inviting both local and international DJs to take part in guest curating some of the most popular playlists on the platform. The playlists and DJs include:
Carnival: Curated by D'Bandit (@lookdbandit), hailing from Toronto and representing Grenada.
Dancehall Official: Hosted by Night Owl Sound (@nightowlsound), from Toronto’s own OVO Mark x OVO Noel.
House Party: Masterfully put together by Dr. Jay, aka Soca Prince (@socaprince), a legend in the Soca music scene that has helped connect generations of young Torontonians to their Caribbean roots. The House Party playlist will be updated in early August.
Irie: Brought by world-renowned DJ, radio pioneer and Canada’s Reggae ambassador, Spex Da Boss (@spexdaboss).
Soca Classics: From award-winning DJ with more than 15 years in the Toronto DJ game, Lissa Monet (@heylissamonet).
Massive Soca Hits: From Barbadian DJ and 2016 winner of the Red Bull Music 3Style World DJ Championships, DJ Puffy (@deejaypuffy).
As part of the partnership, Spotify will also host its first Carnival event on Thursday, August 3 at Toronto's Cabana Pool Bar in collaboration with Spotify's FREQUENCY and the legendary Soca Or Die Party, hosted by the Soca Prince himself, Dr. Jay. Leading up to the event, Dr. Jay will guest-curate Spotify’s House Party playlist, which pays homage to those who've led the cultural shift of the Black experience in the community and nightlife: expanding from local activations to massive festivals.
“Music plays a tremendous role in the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, so this partnership with Spotify is a natural fit,” said Mischka Crichton, CEO of the Festival Management Committee, producers of Toronto Caribbean Carnival. “This is an opportunity to elevate our talented DJs and Caribbean music through Carnival Sounds. We are bringing the world to Toronto Carnival through the Spotify platform!”
For more information on Toronto Caribbean Carnival events, tickets and media accreditation, please visit: https://www.torontocarnival.ca/
About Spotify
Spotify is the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with a community of more than 515 million Monthly Active Users and 210 million Premium Subscribers. With a presence in 184 markets, and more than 100 million tracks including 5 million podcast titles, it has transformed the way people access and enjoy music and podcasts.
About Toronto Caribbean Carnival
The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is a spectacular display of costumes, music, and culture. This year is the 56th anniversary of the Grand Parade, which was first gifted to Canada by the Caribbean Community during Canada’s centennial celebrations. This Caribbean tradition of parading through the street was founded in celebration of freedom and emancipation from slavery and is appropriately marked on what has been recognized by the Canadian government as Emancipation Day weekend. For more information: www.torontocarnival.ca
For media inquiries, please contact:
Spotify Canada Media Contact: dtroya-alvarez@argylepr.com
Toronto Caribbean Carnival Media Contact: Fennella@torontocarnival.ca