#Repost Billboard.com: Ed Sheeran, Sam Hunt & More Are Spotify Editors' Picks for New Music Friday

Originally posted on Billboard.com here. 

On the heels of Billboard's partnership with the streaming giant, we'll be tapping Spotify's editors to sift through the soon-to-be-hits and highlight the best of the bunch.

Check out the picks and listen to the entire "New Music Friday" playlist below.

Ed Sheeran – “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You”

Ed Sheeran finally makes a triumphant return to our #NewMusicFriday playlist, after taking a much deserved break from releasing music and actively utilizing social media. After boldly taking a break from Twitter for over a year and only sparingly updating Instagram, following a 5-year run of nonstop recording, touring and promoting his music, the English singer-songwriter has made his lengthy hiatus worth the wait for his eager fans, today releasing two new singles off of his highly anticipated third studio album. Considering Sheeran first began exploring his talents as a musician seriously at the age 13, his taking some personal time off further proves he is wise beyond his years, showcasing through his music how it is both beyond beneficial and exhilarating to recharge and seek new real-world inspiration every now and again.

"I find myself seeing the world through a screen and not my eyes, so I'm taking this opportunity of me not having to be anywhere or do anything to travel the world and see everything I missed," he wrote on Instagram, prior to temporarily disappearing from the public eye. Before logging off, the 25-year-old teased that his album is "the best thing [he's] made thus far," and now that a taste of his forthcoming project has arrived, fans are eager to see how his promise is holding up - as well as find out the meaning behind that mysterious blue square he cryptically tweeted without explanation back in December 2016. 

While Sheeran's career accomplishments to date can fill a book, what arguably is most impressive is his ability to consistently reinvent himself, while also staying true to his vision and making the music he wants to make. On "Castle on the Hill," fans are treated to what can be considered "classic Ed Sheeran," as he offers a new powerful pop anthem that we can already imagine filling our car's radio speakers every time we drive along the coast at dusk. With lyrics showcasing his growth and maturity as a singer, he reflects on the wild ride that brought him to where he is today, all while poetically taking the scenic route home.

Meanwhile, with "Shape of You,” he completely switches gears, delivering a tropical synth-laden ballad that unexpectedly shows off an intriguing sexier side to Sheeran, as well as displays his skillful control of his vocal range. While his two new songs are strikingly different, we don't lose sight of Sheeran's beloved charm and personality in either, something that not every musician looking to switch up their sounds can accomplish with such ease. Needless to say, we're more than excited to see what the brilliant musician has up his sleeve next. Cheers to you, Ed, and welcome back! 

Sam Hunt - "Drinking Too Much"

Sam Hunt is beginning the new year on an interesting footing, outing his deepest thoughts and celebrating his recent engagement simultaneously. His new single, "Drinking Too Much," acts as both a genuine apology and an endearing love song, weaving the seemingly contradictory intentions together, crafting an open letter to his muse that curiously manages to expose his flaws in a way that embraces them.

He and his now-fiancée Hannah Lee Fowler have really been through it over the years, with the singer-songwriter owning up to his faults and past mistakes through brutally honest lyrics, wiping the slate clean as they look towards their bright future together.

The song is inspiring for those hoping to weather the storm with their current partners, with the couple acting as a living example that while love does not come without madness or hardship at times, there is undeniably a kind of love "you don't fall out of." With Hunt's signature talk-singing approach paired with beautifully soft instrumentation, the deeply personal song proves the best way to embrace a new chapter is with an open mind and an open heart.

Snakehips - "Don't Leave" featuring MØ

To give fans a first taste of their forthcoming full-length debut album, Snakehips, a British electronic duo known for working with Zayn Malik, Tinashe and Chance the Rapper, has recruited Danish singer MØ for their first collaborative effort, "Don't Leave," a dazed and dreamy testament to being both in love and perfectly imperfect. With blunt lyrics such as "But I'm not just a f**k-up, I'm the f**k-up you love," MØ not only shoots her shot to convince her better half not to leave because of her flaws, but she does so through blunt lyrics that match her signature blend of grit and grace.

Considering the 28-year-old vocalist tactfully made a big impression in 2016, continuing to build off of the momentum from her mega-successful collaborations with Major Lazer, Iggy Azalea and Justin Bieber and beginning to establish her solo career, one could say that her linking with Snakehips makes perfect sense, with both anticipating to level up by releasing highly anticipated studio albums this year. If 2016 was the year both MØ and Snakehips proved they both are talented forces not to be slept on, 2017 is the year there's no looking back. 

You Me At Six - "Take On The World" 

With the release of their fifth studio album, You Me At Six is entering a new phase in their career, one that is over a decade in the making. While the five-piece's new project offers a refreshingly subtle change in direction, the group manages to occasionally stray from their renowned blend of pop-rock without abandoning their roots, much to the delight of their day-one supporters.

You Me At Six's decision to experiment stylistically without completely reinventing themselves works brilliantly in their favor, as exemplified on their airy track, "Take On The World." With frontman Josh Franceschi at the wheel, warm guitars help frame his passionate, storytelling lyrics, building into a pleasant and euphoric earworm that is as welcoming as it curiously infectious.

"'Take On The World' embodies the spirit of a band who have worked for 10 years to headline arenas and get to the top of their game and then keep working harder," their manager fondly explains. "It also represents their ambition for this new chapter writing their best songs after years of success." As we spend more and more time digesting their new album, we couldn't have worded it better ourselves. 

#Repost: Best of 2016: Spotify Editors' Year-End Picks

Originally posted on Billboard.com.

Music, like any form of art, is a vibrant and passionate journey of discovery, one that doesn't end when the calendar year does. As 2016 comes to a close, Spotify has taken a moment to reflect on what truly was a phenomenal and landmark year for music: full of surprises, artists of all levels reaching new heights and, frankly, the bar for quality being set to a new standard.

While every #NewMusicFriday is a reason to celebrate -- with the playlist receiving weekly updates featuring 50 of the freshest new tracks -- for the playlist's final Friday edition of 2016, it's only right to pay homage to the diverse, impactful tracks that soundtracked our year -- as well as toast to what is yet to come. As we look back on a year's worth of Spotify's #NewMusicFriday playlists, one question comes to the forefront: How exactly do you tell the story of a year in 50 songs? 

Throughout the past 52 weeks, #SpotifyNMF has highlighted a harmonious blend of new songs from 2016's bright-eyed rising artists and established heavyweights alike, as well as debut 2,815 tracks and grow its following to 1.7 million. Along the way, while impressive streaming records were made, something else happened that isn't quite as easily evaluated or summarized solely by a statistic. Thanks to #NewMusicFriday, artists were able to experience significant life-changing growth in the course of one week -- all before the playlist was updated again and a new batch of different artists found themselves highlighted in the mix. With every artist, there's a different story, and #NewMusicFriday is not only a platform to help showcase that story to a growing audience, but also a hand in helping craft that narrative.

As exemplified a plethora of times throughout this year, #NMF played an integral role with some of 2016's success stories, unfolding its curious magic by directly influencing the careers of talented, hardworking artists, such as The Chainsmokers, Maggie Rogers, FRENSHIP, Kent Jones, D.R.A.M., Cheat Codes and countless others.

As many can attest, the beginning of 2016 looked drastically different from the way it does now, and surprisingly enough, one duo in particular has an interesting combination of a designer spandex retailer, a voicemail recording and #SpotifyNMF to thank. James Sunderland and Brett Hite originally met while working together at a Lululemon store, going on to make music under the pseudonym FRENSHIP. The duo recorded a track inspired by a voicemail that featured guest vocalist Emily Warren's grandmother left her and from there, the rest is history. After being discovered on a blog months after it was recorded, their collaborative track "Capsize" was first added to #SpotifyNMF on April 15, going on to hit over 286MM streams. As the single helped lead the group to signing a record deal with Columbia, they will always look back on "Capsize" fondly, remembering how they felt upon first discovering the track was added to the playlist and running around their hotel room celebrating the new milestone in awe. "'Capsize' has created a moment for us," Hite adds. "I think it's up to us to turn it into a career. We just want to make it last as long as we can."

Cheat Codes can definitely echo that sentiment. After living together in the same room (literally) and making music together day after day, each of the three members tirelessly sought opportunities to advance their distinctive sound forward. After lightheartedly making a seemingly far-fetched bet that if one of their songs hit 100 million streams, they would all get matching tattoos about it, Cheat Codes was in for quite the surprise. Their track "Sex" was added to #NMF on Feb. 2, later going on to hit 354MM streams. Interestingly enough, the track was originally released without fans knowing who created it, with many speculating it was created by legendary electronic acts, such as Major Lazer or DJ Snake. Now, with their name on the board, Cheat Codes is determined to put out new music, setting out to surpass their own impressive streaming numbers. "2016 was like laying the foundation and now 2017 we have such a solid foundation to really show the world what we're capable of," member Matt Russell shares.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the summer, NYU student Maggie Rogers went to from simply going to class to being featured on the cover of #SpotifyNMF on June 17. Coupled with a now-infamous cosign from Pharrell Williams, Rogers went on to witness firsthand how one three-minute song aided in her becoming a viral sensation, solidifying her as one of 2016's most exciting breakout artists. The day after the 22-year-old covered the playlist and her track "Alaska" was featured, she went backpacking in the Swiss Alps, figuring that whatever was happening in her career music-wise would be eagerly waiting for her when she got back.

"As I would enter new timezones, my Spotify kept switching, and I was still on the cover," the singer-songwriter reflects. "I was on the train with my cousin and we were in the middle of a conversation and all of a sudden, my phone started blowing up." While Rogers pokes fun at the phrase, playfully pointing out the insane amount of messages she received after the playlist went live, the growth her fanbase experienced as a result is no laughing matter. With her single at 21MM streams and counting, Rogers is eager to see where her music takes her next, adding, "A lot can happen in a year. I don't know what I'm capable of making yet. I'm excited, I feel like my life is just starting."

Similarly, when Kent Jones originally created, "Don't Mind," to him, it was just a song on a mixtape. However, after being included on #SpotifyNMF, the track was given new life, quickly becoming the standalone record that fans gravitated towards from his new project. As the song began to circulate, Jones won over a younger audience who helped the song reach viral heights, further strengthened by a distinctive series of dance moves, branded as the #DontMindChallenge. "It just felt good," Jones says, of the track's feel-good vibe and the now-viral Internet challenge. "All my tracks do that though, it's weird. It just captures you like that." The song, which references Barry White's 1994 smash, "Practice What You Preach," has since reached 239MM streams, securing the title of most streamed hip-hop track this year. "It hasn't stopped yet," Jones adds, excitedly. "It's not that I'm surprised, it's just the fact that it's just right now still going." As a gifted musician who simply creates the music he "hears in his head," Jones is beyond ready to keep the momentum going into the new year.

While the astonishing success that these artists saw stemming from #SpotifyNMF is arguably unprecedented, the most exciting, bewildering fact is that our work here is far from finished. If 2016 has been any indication, we can't wait to see what 2017 may have in store for us, full of new music waiting to be discovered, nourished and celebrated. Perhaps Young the Giant's Sameer Gadhia words it best: "The artists that are going to make the biggest impact in 2017 are the ones that no one's heard of yet, the ones that people least expect."

#Repost Billboard.com: Nine Inch Nails, Yo Gotti, Twenty One Pilots & More Are Spotify Editors' Picks for New Music Friday

Originally published on Billboard.com here. 

Every week, Spotify updates their "New Music Friday" playlist, featuring 50 of the freshest new tracks hitting the service that week.

On the heels of Billboard's partnership with the streaming giant, we'll be tapping Spotify's editors to sift through the soon-to-be-hits and highlight the best of the bunch.

Check out the picks and listen to the entire "New Music Friday" playlist below.

Nine Inch Nails - "Dear World,"

Nine Inch Nails blesses our #NewMusicFriday playlist this week, with the release of their new EP, Not The Actual Events, a project member Trent Reznor describes as "an unfriendly, fairly impenetrable record" that they "needed to make." Following creating music for various film scores this year, such as NASA's short film Juno and the forthcoming Peter Berg-directed movie, Patriot's Day, the veteran industrial rock group today shares five new tracks, marking their first release since 2013's Hesitation Marks. Of the project's conception, Reznor elaborated back in 2015, saying, "It's more just feeling around in the dark and seeing what sounds interesting." For the EP, longtime-collaborator Atticus Ross lends his talents for the first time as an official member, and together the two achieve what Reznor was hoping to, with "Dear World," a curious adventure, full of looming danger and mystery in the form of an disheartening open letter, reminiscent of the experimental sound Nine Inch Nails is reputed for. 

Cheat Codes - Spotify Singles Session

Cheat Codes today shares the magic they made during their Spotify Session at our studio in NYC, offering a stripped-down live recording of one of their favorite singles to date. Although "Queen Elizabeth" was released only a month ago, the single has already garnered over 7 million plays on Spotify, showing the electronic trio is gearing up to further take over in 2017. This year elevated their career to a new level, with the widespread success stemming from their select few releases, such as the mega-banger "Sex" with Kris Kross Amsterdam racking up over 300 million streams, helping solidify their impressive place as the 88th most-streamed artist on Spotify. Additionally, as part of their Spotify Session, the group also recorded a special cover of D.R.A.M.'s smash hit with Lil Yachty, giving the already playful track a lighthearted, synth-filled twist. Needless to say, whatever the group has planned for in the new year, we're more than ready for.

Yo Gotti - "They Like" featuring YFN Lucci

After dropping his The Art of Hustle album back in February, Yo Gotti is back today (Dec. 23) with the release of White Friday, a project that doubles as a bit of a victory lap celebrating how kind 2016 was to him career-wise. After achieving platinum status with his track "Down in the DM," Yo Gotti went on to hit the road with G-Eazy and Logic as part of their Endless Summer tour and later signing to Roc Nation. Needless to say, the Tennessee native has long earned himself some bragging rights 16 years after dropping his debut album, choosing to flex in his music and with a star-studded selection of guest features on his new project. With "They Like," the 35-year-old recruits YFN Lucci and together the two trade verses reflecting on being "real ones" over a blissed out, piano-laden beat. 

Big Sean ft. Chance the Rapper and Jeremih - "Living Single"

When it comes to reflecting on romance, Big Sean shows he's got words we all can relate to on his new track, "Living Single." Recruiting the likes of Chance the Rapper and Jeremih, the collaborative song's easygoing grooves balance out the narrative lyrics perfectly, leaving fans hopeful this won't be the last time these three get in the studio together. With storytelling lyrics detailing the struggle of dating, such as, "Look, I know what it's like to think you found the one / Told my mom that so many times I'm sounding dumb," we can't help but applaud Big Sean for always keeping it 100 when he gets on the mic, all while still giving a little hope to the hopeless romantics. The single also doubles as the third promotional offering in advance of Big Sean's fourth studio album, I Decided, which is slated for a February 3rd, 2017 release. "My whole life changed when I Decided," the rapper recently shared on Twitter, hinting that "Living Single" is just one chapter for us to indulge in and reminding us he's got a full book on the way. 

Twenty One Pilots - "Ride" featuring MUTEMATH

Fresh off the news of being nominated for three Grammy Awards, Twenty One Pilots recruits MUTEMATH to rework their hit single "Ride," as part of a special collaborative EP, beautifully combining each group's respective talents. Perhaps inspired by their time on tour together this year, the two groups joined forces to create a unique collection of five tracks that fans of both parties can enjoy. Mashing their sounds together, as exemplified by the rework of "Ride," truly was a wise decision, with the song highlighting each group's signature style while giving new life to a smash single that helped soundtrack a majority of this year.