Week of June 2nd, 2026: Ginga no Ippyo, Voice AI, Spotify New Analytics, and more

Voice AI plays a crucial role in the drama.

"Ginga no Ippyo," currently airing, features Noriko Hidaka as Hikaru Shiratori and Yuki Kaji as an AI company CEO. The story incorporates settings where synthesized voice becomes a key plot element, seemingly reflecting the real-world trends of the audio industry. In particular, the direction during a crucial scene near the end of the drama, where that voice is heard, is truly impressive in its intent and expression.

Spotify's new analytics have been released.

Spotify has launched a new analytics dashboard for creators. It is now possible to check more detailed listening data than ever before, allowing for deeper analysis of the ratio between new and returning listeners, as well as the performance of each episode. I also discuss practical ways to use these tools, including points to keep in mind when comparing data with previous periods and which metrics should be prioritized. There is much more to cover, so please be sure to listen to the full episode.