Photoshopped ad subverts Spotify’s ‘Thanks 2016, It's Been Weird’ campaign
Spotify gained plaudits for its intriguing use of user data in its ‘Thanks 2016, it's been weird’ campaign, which released localised snippets of data to amuse and engage the public.
The Spotify ad got the Photoshop treatment
However, the campaign has been subverted by someone in the UK with a basic working knowledge of Photoshop, calling the company out for the widely accepted per stream payment Spotify affords musicians.
Coincidentally, the Bristol-based, digitally-defaced ad was circulated on Facebook to a substantial audience by a band from the region called Spectres.
The Bristol Post, which first noticed the hijacked ad, reports that the media buy originally said: “Dear person in Bristol who listened to the ‘Forever Alone’ playlist for 3 hours on Valentine’s Day. You Ok?”
The music-streaming company has access to a rich stream of data and listening habits and was able to pick out and share facts such as “Dear 3,749 people who streamed 'It's The End Of The World As We Know It' the day of the Brexit Vote. Hang in There.".
In the US, the following also cropped up: "Dear person who made a playlist called: 'One Night Stand With Jeb Bush Like He's a Bond Girl in a European Casino.' We have so many questions."