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Spotify “Let the Song Play” 2020

Spotify “Let the Song Play” (2020) is a Spotify commercial directed by Matthew Swanson for Spotify In-House, produced by Epoch Films. It won 9 awards, including Cannes Lions 2020 Film Silver, shots Awards The Americas 2020 Gold — Online Commercial of the Year. Up to and including two minutes and ADC 2020 Silver Cube Advertising — Television / Film / Online Video / Online - Single.

This ad shows various people in their cars, experiencing a range of emotions from sadness to joy, all while listening to music on Spotify.

Video: MACKCUT on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A young man in a white shirt and red vest reaches into a car to give something to a bearded man in glasses, who is sitting in the driver's seat.© Spotify0:04
  2. A young man with curly brown hair, wearing a white shirt and a red vest, looks down at the front of a car in a parking lot at dusk.© Spotify0:06
  3. A dark blue sedan drives slowly through a mostly empty parking lot on a bright day, with a person's back visible in the foreground.© Spotify0:14
  4. A man with long hair and a beard, wearing a denim jacket, sits in a red car, singing along to music during the day.© Spotify0:17
  5. An older Black couple walks down a suburban driveway, the man holding a gift and the woman holding a doll.© Spotify0:29
  6. A Black woman in her 30s, wearing a yellow top, sits in the driver's seat of a car, looking out the window with a concerned expression.© Spotify0:32
  7. A young Asian woman in a blue shirt drives a car, looking distressed and holding her hand up as if to stop something.© Spotify0:36
  8. A man with dark hair, wearing a light blue shirt, is driving a red sports car in a parking lot, looking around.© Spotify0:38
  9. A young Black woman in a yellow shirt sings passionately while driving a car on a sunny day in a suburban neighborhood.© Spotify0:42
  10. A young man with curly hair, wearing a white shirt and red vest, looks around nervously in a parking lot at dusk.© Spotify0:53
  11. Two soccer coaches, a man and a woman, stand on a grassy field, looking confused as the man checks his watch.© Spotify1:00
  12. A man in a pink shirt and brown pants exits a light blue car in a parking lot, while two valets in red vests stand nearby outside a restaurant.© Spotify1:05

Stills © Spotify. Made by Spotify In-House, Epoch Films and Matthew Swanson.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

Music helps people process emotions while driving.

Tagline: “Spotify. For the ride.”

everyday life momentsemotional journeymusic as therapycar as a personal spacediverse castslice of life vignettes

The cut

Length
80 s
Shots
40
Average shot
2.0 s

What creatives use Spotify “Let the Song Play” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Spotify “Let the Song Play”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A young man in a white shirt and red vest reaches into a car to give something to a bearded man in glasses, who is sitting in the driver's seat.© SpotifyA young man with curly brown hair, wearing a white shirt and a red vest, looks down at the front of a car in a parking lot at dusk.© SpotifyA dark blue sedan drives slowly through a mostly empty parking lot on a bright day, with a person's back visible in the foreground.© SpotifyA man with long hair and a beard, wearing a denim jacket, sits in a red car, singing along to music during the day.© Spotify
    Frames from Spotify “Let the Song Play”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of Spotify “Let the Song Play” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A young man in a white shirt and red vest reaches into a car to give something to a bearded man in glasses, who is sitting in the driver's seat.© SpotifyA young man with curly brown hair, wearing a white shirt and a red vest, looks down at the front of a car in a parking lot at dusk.© SpotifyA dark blue sedan drives slowly through a mostly empty parking lot on a bright day, with a person's back visible in the foreground.© SpotifyA man with long hair and a beard, wearing a denim jacket, sits in a red car, singing along to music during the day.© SpotifyAn older Black couple walks down a suburban driveway, the man holding a gift and the woman holding a doll.© SpotifyA Black woman in her 30s, wearing a yellow top, sits in the driver's seat of a car, looking out the window with a concerned expression.© Spotify
    Length: 80 s · Shots: 40 · Average shot: 2.0 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a everyday life moments

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    Spotify “Let the Song Play” is built on a everyday life moments. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    John Lewis “Through the Ages”© John LewisIcelandair “Chez Louis”© IcelandairCity Chain “Time Is Love”© City ChainGTI “Volkswagen UK - 50 Years of GTI”© GTI
    John Lewis · Icelandair · City Chain · GTI

More commercials by Matthew Swanson

  • Mcdonalds "McDelivery & The Movies" (2022) commercial still© McdonaldsMcdonalds “McDelivery & The Movies” 2022Dir. Matthew Swanson · Leo BurnettBritish Arrows Gold 2022
  • Trainline "New Realisations" (2024) commercial still© TrainlineTrainline “New Realisations” 2024Dir. Matthew SwansonKinsale Sharks Bronze 2024
  • McDonald's "McDelivery and the Movies" (2022) commercial still© McDonald'sMcDonald's “McDelivery and the Movies” 2022Dir. Matthew Swanson · Leo BurnettCreative Circle Bronze 2022
  • Alfred Kaercher SE & Co. KG "Kaercher - Halloween" (2025) commercial still© Alfred Kaercher SE & Co. KGAlfred Kaercher SE & Co. KG “Kaercher - Halloween” 2025Dir. Matthew Swanson · antoni
  • Mattress Firm "Socks" (2024) commercial still© Mattress FirmMattress Firm “Socks” 2024Dir. Matthew Swanson · Fallon
  • WestJet "Where Your Story Takes Off Edited by Izzy Ehrlich" (2024) commercial still© WestJetWestJet “Where Your Story Takes Off Edited by Izzy Ehrlich” 2024Dir. Matthew Swanson · Rethink

More from Spotify In-House

  • Spotify "Thank You, Listeners" (2021) commercial still© SpotifySpotify “Thank You, Listeners” 2021Dir. David Wilson · Spotify In-HouseCreative Circle Bronze 2021
  • Spotify In-House "Dinner" (2018) commercial still© Spotify In-HouseSpotify In-House “Dinner” 2018Dir. Matt Devine · Spotify In-HouseD&AD Wood Pencil 2018

Award-winning media & entertainment commercials

Questions

Who directed the Spotify “Let the Song Play” commercial?

Matthew Swanson directed it, produced by Epoch Films, for the agency Spotify In-House.

Which agency made Spotify “Let the Song Play”?

Spotify In-House created it for Spotify (2020).

What awards did Spotify “Let the Song Play” win?

9 awards, including Cannes Lions 2020 Film Silver, shots Awards The Americas 2020 Gold — Online Commercial of the Year. Up to and including two minutes, ADC 2020 Silver Cube Advertising — Television / Film / Online Video / Online - Single and Cannes Lions 2020 Film Bronze.

What is the tagline of Spotify “Let the Song Play”?

“Spotify. For the ride.”

Sources for the credits and awards

aicpawards.comdandad.orgThe WorkThe WorkThe WorkThe Workoneclub.orgawards.ciclopefestival.comoneclub.orgoneclub.orgclios.comshots