Spotify apologises for omitting Scots language option on music site

Spotify has apologised publicly for neglecting to include Scots in a list of languages that songs on the website can be categorised in.

The news comes after award-winning singer Iona Fyfe discovered that Scots was the only British minority language omitted from the streaming giant’s site.

“We apologise that the Scots language isn't included in the list yet,” Spotify told Ms Fyfe via Twitter.

“Rest assured this has been passed on to the right team and they are taking a closer look at this.

“Hopefully, we'll have a solution shortly. We really appreciate your bringing this to our attention,” the message finished.

Ms Fyfe praised the “pro-active” response, but said she remained cautious.

“I don’t think I’ll personally be satisfied until I see Scots in the drop down menu on the screen,” she told The Scotsman.

“Let’s see if they make good on this.”

The news comes after award-winning singer Iona Fyfe discovered that Scots was the only British minority language omitted from the streaming giant’s site.

The 22-year-old, from Huntly in Aberdeenshire, crowned 2020 Scots Performer of the Year prize at the Scots Language Awards, first noticed the omission of Scots while filling out an online form to have her version of In The Bleak Midwinter added to a Spotify playlist.

Iona, who has a degree in Scots Song from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, plans to release it on all online platforms on Christmas Eve.

Now, she wants the music streaming site to do more to support Scots music.

“There are so many Scots Songs on Spotify, they could even go further to remedy the situation by creating an editorial Scots Song playlist.

“Now this is on their radar, they know that the Scots language community will hold them accountable,” she said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Iona was set to tour Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, the UK and the USA.

When the world tour was cancelled, Iona went on to win the 2020 Scots Performer of the Year prize at the Scots Language Awards, and reached the semi-final of BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition.

You can listen to more of Iona’s work here.

Spotify has not yet responded to a request for comment from The Scotsman.

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