Daily Signals 01.09.2025

Signals

Spotify celebrates the fans who fuel music culture, Jo Malone finds growth in China’s live-stream boom and why impulse shopping is on the rise in the UK.

Spotify celebrates the fans who fuel music culture

Spotify, Global

Global – Spotify has relaunched its Fan Life campaign to spotlight the fans who fuel music culture. The global marketing initiative features a new series of short films capturing the movement, sound and emotion of fan communities. 

This second instalment of Fan Life highlights seven international artist fandoms: Bad Bunny, Charli XCX, Lil Uzi Vert, Rezz, Sleep Token, Megan Moroney and Pitbull. Scenes showcase fans engaging in their signature rituals, from a dance party with a Bad Bunny fan and his abuela to late-night bike rides for Charli XCX devotees. Notably, one clip shows Pitbull fans donning bald caps and suits on their way to a concert. 

Rolling out in markets worldwide, the campaign also spotlights local artist fandoms such as Italy’s Kid Yugi, the UK’s PinkPantheress, France’s Aya Nakamura and Brazil’s Anitta. 

‘Being a fan is about more than just listening – it’s about connection, community and creativity,’ Spotify said. Fan Life aims to celebrate these moments and the passion that drives fandoms across the globe.  

This aligns with our Great Concert Comeback report, in which we analysed how live music, fan engagement and immersive experiences are driving record consumer spending and reshaping the entertainment economy. 

Strategic opportunity

Consider how fan-led content, such as user-generated stories, challenges and collaborations, can strengthen loyalty and amplify authentic engagement

Jo Malone finds growth in China’s live-stream boom

AI imagery by The Future Laboratory, UK AI imagery by The Future Laboratory, UK

China – Fragrance house Jo Malone has tapped into China’s e-idol economy with a group live-stream featuring male idol group Joy X on the short-form video-sharing app Douyin.

The two-and-a-half-hour broadcast drew nearly 600,000 viewers and generated an estimated £104,100–260,100 ($140,000–350,000,€120,000–300,000) in gross merchandise value, almost 10 times the brand’s typical livestream revenue (source: Qingyan). Joe Malone’s solo livestreams typically attract around 50,000 viewers.

E-idols are a genre of idol groups building a fan base through performing on online platforms and live-streaming e-commerce, rather than traditional in-person performances. 

The format, known as ‘团播 tuan bo’ (group live-streaming), is typically dominated by domestic brands in China. But the 80% female audience, aged predominantly between 18 and 23, is primed for the global cosmetics industry (source: Jing Daily).

McKinsey & Co predicts live shopping will make up 20% of all shopping by 2026, as explored in our Future of Live Shopping report.

Strategic opportunity

Experiment with performance-led live shopping to unlock new revenue streams and engage Gen Z audiences on the platforms they spend, socialise and shop on

Stat: Impulse shopping fuels £64bn ($86.7bn, €74.3bn) retail opportunity

Photography by Max Fischer Photography by Max Fischer

UK – Consumers are spending more and doing so more impulsively, according to a study by Vanquis. The research reveals that Brits now make an average of 42 impulse purchases a year, totalling £944 ($1,269, €1,087) per person, or £64.4bn ($86.7bn, €74.3bn) nationwide.

In our Value Vanguard report, we explored the rise of emotional spending – a key driver behind this shift.

Food and snacks dominate unplanned buys, with 51% of shoppers splurging outside their budget – rising to 66% among 25-34-year-olds. Convenience retailers benefit most from single-serve grab-and-go formats, a behaviour we spotlighted in our Grab-and-Go Cuisine report, while the healthy snacks market is adding fresh momentum.

Fashion follows closely, with 43% of Brits buying clothing on impulse, fuelled by a 13% surge in fast-fashion sales this year. Restaurants, takeaways and cafés capture 31% of spur-of-the-moment spend.

Social media is the accelerant – 56% of Brits say TikTok, Instagram and YouTube influence their purchases, with TikTok Shop doubling its UK sellers in the past year.

Strategic opportunity

Craft campaigns and products that trigger joy, comfort or desire in the moment. Use sensory design, social storytelling and limited-time offers to transform impulse buying into lasting brand connection

Previous Daily Signals Articles
Dutch Design Week 2025: Digital afterlives and making space for grief

Daily Signals

Dutch Design Week 2025: Digital afterlives and making space for grief

Dutch Design Week 2025 has so far prompted visitors to question what it means to be human, and what challenges that notion more than death itself.
Dutch Design Week : Design : Global Events
ASOS Live redefines fashion shopping through creator-led video content

Daily Signals

ASOS Live redefines fashion shopping through creator-led video content

ASOS has launched ASOS Live, a new video shopping experience designed to merge inspiration, content and commerce within its app.
Fashion : Asos : Retail
Stat: Gen Alpha face stricter screen time controls at home and school

Daily Signals

Stat: Gen Alpha face stricter screen time controls at home and school

New survey data from Morning Consult reveals that technology bans are already widespread in schools across the US, with more than half of parents o...
Technology : Gen Alpha : Education
Dutch Design Week 2025: Slowing AI and fostering empathy

Daily Signals

Dutch Design Week 2025: Slowing AI and fostering empathy

The 25th edition of Dutch Design Week has kicked off in Eindhoven with this year’s anniversary theme being Past, Present, Possible. The purpose of ...
Dutch Design Week : DDW : Global Events
Oatly’s Future of Taste report spotlights flavours shaping global beverage culture

Daily Signals

Oatly’s Future of Taste report spotlights flavours shaping global beverage culture

Oatly has unveiled its first Future of Taste report, charting the flavours and formats set to influence global beverage culture.
Food : Drink : Flavour
Stat: Size inclusivity stalls on spring/summer 2026 catwalks

Daily Signals

Stat: Size inclusivity stalls on spring/summer 2026 catwalks

The Vogue Business Spring/Summer 2026 Size Inclusivity Report reveals disappointing progress on fashion’s size representation. Of 9,038 runway look...
Fashion : Identity : Stat
The Ordinary exposes beauty industry buzzwords in dystopian new video

Daily Signals

The Ordinary exposes beauty industry buzzwords in dystopian new video

In a provocative new campaign, skincare brand The Ordinary is calling out the beauty industry’s reliance on pseudo-scientific language.
Beauty : Skincare : Misinformation
Luxury travellers prioritise value, experience and climate-conscious choices for 2026

Daily Signals

Luxury travellers prioritise value, experience and climate-conscious choices for 2026

Luxury travel is set to evolve in 2026, with affluent travellers seeking deeper meaning, personalisation and sustainable choices, according to Virt...
Luxury : Gen Alpha : Luxury Travel
Stat: Public confidence in UK food safety reaches record high

Daily Signals

Stat: Public confidence in UK food safety reaches record high

Public trust in the UK’s food system has hit its highest level since 2020, according to the Food Standards Agency’s Food and You 2 survey.
Food : Health : Stat
Swedish campaign encourages doctors to prescribe visits

Daily Signals

Swedish campaign encourages doctors to prescribe visits

Visit Sweden has launched The Swedish Prescription, making it ‘the first country in the world prescribed by doctors’.
Health : Travel : Tourism
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN