Spotify wants to explain campaign issues to millennials


Spotify is branching out from piping your favorite Diplo track into your ears to piping Diplo's thoughts on student debt through your headphones instead. Clarify, a new venture between Spotify and Mic, will feature "weekly audio and video programming on Tuesdays through Election Day" including "musicians [talking] about millennial issues," Politico reports. First up: Student debt.
Comedian Baratunde Thurston moderates with millennial-friendly facts: For instance, the average student debt is money that could be put toward a car, retirement, "or [used to] watch Netflix for 300 years." His first guest, Diplo, might not exactly be the typical American suffering from student debt — the DJ is worth an estimated $15 million — but before he made it big, Diplo recalled the oppressive weight of debt when he was attending Temple University in Philadelphia. "I took out loans, I borrowed money from my family, I had jobs all the time. Paying rent and just buying food is difficult. That's the most difficult thing," Diplo told Thurston.
And while his debt might be under control now, Diplo, a Bernie Sanders supporter, said he sees a lot of his friends and family struggling: "Everybody I know has debt. I'm a very small percentage, lucky story where I just happened to strike gold, I was able to make money in my profession. Thank God, I don't know what I would do if I didn't make money. I'd be back in Florida. Back in the swamp," he said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
For the time being, it appears Clarify is only available on your mobile device; get there by clicking here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Book review: 'Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus' and 'When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines'
Feature The college dropout who ruled the magazine era and the mysteries surrounding Jesus Christ
By The Week US
-
Not invincible: Tech burned by tariff war
Feature Tariffs on Asian countries are shaking up Silicon Valley, driving up prices and deepening global tensions
By The Week US
-
Fake AI job seekers are flooding U.S. companies
In the Spotlight It's getting harder for hiring managers to screen out bogus AI-generated applicants
By Theara Coleman, The Week US
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US