What you need to know

• Spotify is celebrating the 10th birthday of its Discover Weekly playlist, which specializes in delivering new music to users every Monday.
• Its birthday brings two updates to Premium users: a refreshed playlist design and new listening controls to “steer the vibe.”
• Spotify’s platform also has other personalized music methods, like its AI DJ, which recently picked up song requests.

Spotify Discover Weekly turned 10 this week, and users can get in on the fun with substantial analytics and updates they should keep their eyes out for.

Spotify has continued to improve its ability to suggest music to its users that they might be interested in. This week, Spotify celebrated the 10th birthday of its most prominent suggestion engine: Discover Weekly. There are a few gifts to unwrap; however, the music streaming service is gifting users two first: a new look and new listening controls.

Spotify states in its blog post that it’s beginning to roll out a refresh, vibrant design for the Discover Weekly playlist’s “ever-evolving nature.” Additionally, users will soon notice new listening controls on mobile. These controls will be placed at the top of the playlist, so users can “steer the vibe of their discovery.”

The post says that users can “choose up to five genres,” which are already personalized based on your listening history. When chosen, Discover Weekly will provide a brand new selection of 30 songs.

These updates are rolling out for Premium users this week.

The celebrations continue as Spotify takes a look back at 10 years of Discover Weekly. Designed to bring users music they might like to listen to, users have streamed over 100 billion tracks in Discover Weekly. This huge number has some special modifiers, according to Spotify. Discover Weekly has enabled listeners to discover more than 56 million new artists per week (average). Additionally, in just one year, Spotify says users saved over 556 million songs found through Discover Weekly.

Also, Discover Weekly appears to have helped new artists find more ears. Spotify’s stats show that new artists made up 77% of Discover Weekly’s suggestions.

Happy Birthday!

Spotify is available in a wide range of regions, and it seems many places have engaged with Discover Weekly. The city with the highest number of discoveries is New York, followed by London, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Sydney, Paris, Warsaw, and Istanbul. With rising artists, there are also rising genres, which Spotify says are spearheaded by Amapiano.

Artists who’ve been spotted reaching new audiences include BL3SS, Djo, Goldford, Lola Young, and Mark Ambor.

Spotify reiterates that Discover Weekly refreshes its content every Monday. If you’ve never engaged with it before, now’s the time. You can find your personal Discover Weekly selection in the “Made for You” tab (just make sure you’re updated).

Let’s not forget Spotify’s AI DJ, which is an extension of the platform’s interest in delivering users personalized music. A recent update for the DJ brought song requests, so users can tell the AI what they want to listen to. It’s kind of like the old days, but digital. Users can press and hold the DJ’s icon to speak their suggestion.

Spotify says listeners aren’t restricted, as they can combine genres, moods, artists, and songs into their query for a truly personalized time.

The North Korean-linked Lazarus Group has adopted a new method of breaching crypto firms: sending cryptocurrency to their targets as part of an elaborate social engineering scheme.

According to 23pds, the pseudonymous Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Web3 security firm SlowMist, this tactic aims to gain the victim’s trust before deploying malicious code.

23pds revealed that one recipient received at least $400 in USDT, but actual payouts can reach thousands.

He said:

“Lazarus hackers make hundreds or even thousands of dollars in direct payments to their victims in advance… Just to gain the victim’s trust.”

These payments are designed to make the attackers seem legitimate, increasing the likelihood of victims complying with their requests.

Social engineering hacks

Unlike traditional cyberattacks that exploit technical vulnerabilities, the social engineering hack approach focuses on manipulating human behavior.

The hackers identify employees working for crypto firms, establish contact, and send them digital assets to gain credibility. Once trust is established, they trick victims into executing malicious code embedded with backdoors.

These interactions often occur through private GitHub repositories or live chat tools. Once access is granted, the attackers manipulate victims into running compromised code, allowing unauthorized entry into company systems.

Considering this, 23pds warned that crypto firms must strengthen internal security measures and train employees to recognize such deceptive tactics.

He added:

“All platforms, pls check yourself and make sure you pay attention to safety and train your staff on safety awareness.”

North Korean hackers

The incident highlights the evolving nature of crypto-related crimes as security concerns in the industry grow. It also suggests that the Lazarus Group may be preparing for a resurgence after reduced activity in late 2024.

In 2024, North Korean-backed hackers stole $1.34 billion of the total $2.2 billion pilfered from the crypto sector. This marked a staggering 103% increase from the $660 million attributed to North Korea in 2023.

However, their attack frequency declined significantly following a late June 2024 summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The world of gift-giving is witnessing a revolutionary shift with the emergence of digital and phygital collectibles—a blend of digital and physical assets that introduces a new dimension to personalized gifting. This innovative trend combines the uniqueness of digital collectibles secured by blockchain technology with the tangible appeal of physical gifts, such as fine art prints and video prints, to create a multi-sensory experience for recipients.

                                          “Red Rue” by SurR.Ai is available as NFT on Rarible marketplace.

Phygital collectibles represent the convergence of digital innovation with traditional gift-giving, creating a platform for personalization, storytelling, and community engagement. These collectibles transcend mere gifts; they are immersive experiences, offering recipients an exclusive piece of digital art secured by blockchain technology, complemented by the tangible value of a physical counterpart. This blend enhances the emotional impact of the gift, transforming it into a deeply personal token of appreciation that seamlessly bridges the digital and physical realms.

The allure of phygital collectibles lies in their ability to encapsulate stories, making each gift a narrative-rich present that carries a unique significance. Beyond the item itself, these collectibles open up avenues for education about the digital realm, blockchain technology, and the burgeoning world of digital art, providing an enriching experience that extends beyond the act of giving.

Accessibility and sustainability stand at the forefront of the phygital gifting movement. It is essential to ensure that these innovative gifts are user-friendly and straightforward, as this is critical for their widespread adoption. Additionally, they hold the potential to serve as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional gift-giving practices. By diminishing the need for physical production and shipping, particularly with digital art purchases, digital collectibles emerge as a sustainable option for environmentally conscious consumers.

Phygital collectibles mark a transformative shift in the art of gift-giving, offering a distinctive blend of personalization, sustainability, and digital innovation. This makes them an ideal choice for those seeking to impart a meaningful impact with their gifts. As technology progresses, both digital and phygital collectibles are leading this evolution, redefining the essence of giving and receiving gifts in the digital era.

If a price isn’t displayed, we’re open to hearing your offers.

SurR.Ai is a leader in ‘Phygital Art’, offering digital art as NFTs (leveraging blockchain technology) as well as physical formats such as fine art and video prints. Customers can buy NFTs from SurR.Ai and order corresponding physical versions, including fine art prints from VastPhotos.com or WhiteWall.com, and loop video prints from InfiniteObjects.com. SurR.Ai typically provides NFTs in medium resolution, but also offers the option to upgrade to Ultra High Resolution for high-definition quality prints, available through an artwork commission.

Read also: The Best Place to Find Rare and Unique Crypto Collectibles: Discover the World of NFTs with SurR.Ai’s Innovative News Aggregation.

SurR.Ai is currently accepting commissions. Interested in a custom piece? Send us a request to begin discussing your ideas today.

Stay informed on the intersection of art, technology, & commerce in the rapidly evolving world of digital collectibles.

Digital crypto collectibles (NFTs) are reshaping the art world, offering a new platform for artists and a novel investment opportunity for collectors. Their significance extends beyond the digital realm, as they can be converted into tangible forms like high-resolution prints. This fusion of digital and physical art offers both a novel way for art enthusiasts to display their collections and a fresh investment avenue. The market for NFTs is rapidly growing, with their tangible versions adding an extra layer of value and investment potential.  As the market for these digital assets continues to grow, so too does the potential for investment and enjoyment of art in its many forms.

Now with the MoonPay checkout integration, OpenSea users can easily purchase an NFT using a debit or credit card, sidestepping the need to first acquire cryptocurrency.

MoonPay now supports the purchase of Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon NFTs with a debit or credit card. With this new feature, collectors can pay directly with major payment methods like MasterCard, Visa, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. This is a big step towards the goal of making NFTs accessible to everyone.

Get some SurR for Your NFT Collection!

A cool gift for every season & any occasion.

Just for fun or as an investment.

SurR.Ai, a cutting-edge startup that provides a convenient platform for buying a diverse range of surreal Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). It offers a one-stop-shop solution for acquiring animated videos and still images as digital collectibles, available on popular marketplaces like OpenSea, Rarible, and Mintable

Behind every NFT is a Story.
Read them on NFTsurRPost.com and
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You can discover our unique content and access our blog directly at NFTSurRPost.com. Additionally, stay updated by following us on Twitter & Instagram.

NFTSurRPost.com publication serves as a platform for sharing backstories, news, and ideas that have inspired the creation of our digital collectibles. We want to give our readers a better understanding of the art and creativity that goes into each collectible, including the concepts and references that are incorporated into each one.

Stay ahead of the curve & embrace the dynamic evolution of business, technology, visual arts, and digital collectibles. Visit our NFT collections on OpenSea, Rarible & Mintable and stay tuned for new drops, sets, series, collections and special editions!