Icelandic-Chinese artist Laufey has extended her partnership with AWAL globally following the success of her chart-topping album Bewitched.
Released on September 8, the album made history by securing the all-time record as the biggest debut for a jazz album on Spotify. It debuted at No. 2 on Spotify’s Top Album Debut Global chart, trailing only behind Olivia Rodrigo.
The album’s standout single, From the Start, currently holds the title of the most streamed jazz song in the US for this year. It has so far been streamed more than 167 million times on Spotify.
Laufey, who is in the midst of her sold-out North American tour, has amassed over 1 billion streams across various platforms, making her the biggest streaming artist from Iceland globally. On Spotify alone, Laufey has nearly 13 million monthly listeners.
Bewitched’s success follows that of her debut full-length album, Everything I Know About Love, last year, which made Laufey the most-streamed Jazz artist on Spotify in 2022.
“AWAL’s steadfast commitment to my creative autonomy has been essential in providing me the space and freedom to create music on my own terms.”
Laufey
AWAL Senior Vice President Victoria Needs said Laufey is on a “mission to bring Jazz to Gen Z.”
Sony Music Group-owned AWAL announced on Tuesday (November 14) that Laufey would continue her partnership with the record company.
“AWAL’s steadfast commitment to my creative autonomy has been essential in providing me the space and freedom to create music on my own terms. Their drive and progressive vision for the music industry runs through the company, and I’m over the moon to extend our partnership,” Laufey said.
Max Gredinger, Partner at Foundations Artist Management, said: “AWAL has understood and shared Laufey’s vision of bringing jazz and classical music to her generation from the get-go.”
“Thank you to Lonny Olinick, Bianca Bhagat, Pete Giberga, Paul Hitchman, Justin Macchio, Cami Opere, Rob Stringer, Francesca Burton, Laura Ray, Nathan Liddle-Hulme, Jess Mills, Nicki Shamel, Victoria Needs, Richie Marcello-Williams, Steph Gaber, and all of the other passionate people that make up the team for their indivisible belief in this generational artist; we are excited to continue our partnership.”
AWAL CEO Lonny Olinick also commented on the partnership, saying: “Laufey is the artist you dream of having an opportunity to work with. She is a generational talent—that talent is only matched by her incredible dedication to her craft.”
“She has built a fiercely dedicated fanbase and understands what it takes in today’s world to constantly challenge and engage them. The opportunities ahead for Laufey are limitless and I couldn’t be prouder to continue our relationship.”
“Laufey is the artist you dream of having an opportunity to work with. She is a generational talent — that talent is only matched by her incredible dedication to her craft.”
Lonny Olinick, AWAL
AWAL General Manager Bianca Bhagat said: “Working with Laufey, Max and the entire Foundations team over the past two years has been a dream collaboration and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve built to date or more thrilled to continue the partnership. Laufey is an undeniable star and an extraordinary talent with an exciting and ambitious vision for her career. It’s an honor to help bring that shared vision to life every day.”
Raised between Reykjavík and Washington, DC, with annual visits to Beijing, Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) released her debut single Street by Street in 2020. It went on to top the Icelandic radio charts.
Music Business Worldwide
