Spotify recently hosted its Surround Sound event in Lagos, Nigeria, bringing fans closer to artists Tems and Runtown. The two-night event, held at Livespot in Lagos on 25 and 26 September, allowed selected Premium listeners to experience the artists and their music in an intimate setting. This live performance format, launched in Sub-Saharan Africa, captures the performances as full-length music films for Spotify. The event showcased Nigerian artists and listeners at their centre, providing a unique cultural experience.
Tems performed her album For Broken Ears, including tracks such as Ice T and Damages, alongside earlier singles like Mr Rebel and Try Me. She also performed later material, including Love Me JeJe and What You Need, tracing different chapters of her catalogue. Tems reflected on the beginnings of her journey, recalling the creation of Free Mind on her laptop, experimenting with chords and melodies. Her relationship with Spotify dates back to September 2020, when she joined the RADAR Africa programme.
During the performance, Tems invited the audience to sing along, making the fans' voices part of the experience. The following night, Runtown opened with Lagos to Kampala and Gallardo, moving through For Life, International Badman Killa, and Unleash. His set also included Kini Issue, drawing together different parts of his catalogue. Runtown's performance of Mad Over You became a shared moment between artist and audience.
Runtown performed Mad Over You during the set before returning to it a second time to close the show, with fans singing along. He expressed his excitement about performing with his band for the first time in 10 years and connecting with his fans. Spotify's analysis revealed that 21.6% of listeners who played For Broken Ears in January 2022 also listened in August 2026.
Mad Over You appeared in more than three million user-created playlists at the time of the analysis. The Surround Sound event connected existing relationships with an opportunity to experience the artists live. Spotify invited selected Premium listeners directly through the platform, using listening behaviour to identify fans for the experience.
The live room was intentionally intimate, with a fixed capacity, and Rifumo Mdaka of Spotify explained that they use listening signals to reach selected Spotify Premium listeners in Lagos directly. The aim is to create a close artist-fan experience while keeping the room suitable for the performance and film capture. Both performances were filmed for Spotify and will be released as full-length music films.
The Surround Sound event provided a unique experience for Premium listeners, who had the opportunity to hear familiar music performed up close. The audience's responses became part of the experience, and the event extended beyond the room, giving audiences elsewhere another way to experience the music. Release dates for the music films will be announced closer to launch.
Key points
- Spotify Surround Sound brings artists and fans together at close range
- Tems and Runtown perform in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of Spotify's live performance format
- The event was filmed for Spotify and will be released as full-length music films
