A few days ago we released the first version of our new Metadata API and I wanted to make sure everyone knew about it. The Metadata API allows you to search for tracks, albums and artists, much like you search in the client, but you get the result in XML format.

The first use of the API was done on our very own http://www.spotify.com sharing links which, as of last week, display artists and track name rather than just the HTTP link when share with your friends.

Have a look at Magnus’ post on the developers site for all the details about the new API. We look forward to seeing all the neat uses that people come up with.

Just wanted to briefly let everyone know that PayPal is now fully supported in all of our launch countries. So if you’re in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain or France and have been waiting for PayPal before upgrading to Spotify Premium then now’s your chance.

French summary: Un petit mot pour vous dire que vous pouvez désormais utiliser PayPal pour vous abonner à Spotify dans tous les pays dans lesquels Spotify est disponible. Si vous attendiez de pouvoir utiliser PayPal pour vous abonner à Spotify Premium, il est temps de le faire!

Spanish summary: Sólo queríamos informaros a todos que Paypal ahora se admite como sistema de pago en los paises en los que opera Spotify. Así que si estás en Suecia, Noruega, Finlandia , España o Francia y estabas esperando a Paypal antes de actualizar a Spotify Premium, ya no esperes más!

Yesterday we posted our first official ad. Today we have another one that a fan of ours put together that we found pretty amusing (not sure if Jonathan agrees).

Another music update this morning to let you know about with lots of new releases. We added 9,554 albums and singles to the catalogue, in total 124,170 new tracks are now available.

A few highlights includes:

• This Is It by Michael Jackson
• Play In The Dirt by The Resistors
• Live At The Olympia by R.E.M.
• What Will We Be by Devendra Banhart
• The Great Misdirect by Between The Buried And Me
• By a Thread by Gov’t Mule
• Black Roses by Painkiller Hotel
• Cosmic Egg by Wolfmother

Have a look at the Google doc for the full listing of all the releases. As with every update not all albums listed may be available in your country and some tracks previously available may no longer be playable due to regional restrictions.

Let us know what gems you find in this update.

Swedish singer and songwriter Jill Johnson is well known for her winning performance at Melodifestivalen. In 2007 she release the album Music Row which went on to become a huge hit and later this month she’s releasing the followup album, Music Row II, and starting today Spotify Premium subscribers in Sweden can listen to it first.

Name The Pet released her first single, American Boys, earlier this month. Her self-titled debut hits the stores in November and Spotify Premium subscribers in Sweden, Norway and Finland can listen to entire album starting today.

Here’s a little ad that we put together that is currently running on Swedish TV channel Kanal5. It’s the first time we’ve done an ad like this and we quite liked the way it turned out so we thought we’d share it with everyone. Big thanks to Calle, Leo and Kaj and the other Superstrikers at Identityworks who produced it for us!

Also for Spotify Premium subscribers in Sweden today we have tickets to see Marit Larsen live in concert at Kulturhuset in Stockholm on October 28th. Head over to the event website and enter your details for a chance to win.

Another music update this morning to let you know about. We added 3,190 albums and singles to the catalogue, in total 42,516 new tracks are now available.

A few highlights includes:

• Sing Along To Songs You Don’t Know by Mum
• Year In The Kingdom by J. Tillman

Have a look at the Google doc for the full listing of all the releases. As with every update not all albums listed may be available in your country and some tracks previously available may no longer be playable due to regional restrictions.

Let us know what gems you find in this update.

Just a quick to for Spotify Premium subscribers in Sweden to let you know that we have ten tickets to the Rookie ‘09 festival in Hultsfred on October 30th and 31st. For more information and a chance to win the tickets head over to the official website and send in your details.

Another big update to our music catalogue, some of these were added last week but I wasn’t able to post them then so I’ve included everything in today’s update. We added 9,266 albums and singles to the catalogue, in total 120,410 new tracks are now available.

A few highlights includes:

• Invaders Must Die by Prodigy
• Logos by Atlas Sound
• I Told You I Was Freaky by Flight Of The Conchords
• The B.Q.E. by Sufjan Stevens in the UK
• A couple of back catalogue releases from My Morning Jacket

Have a look at the Google doc for the full listing of all the releases. As with every update not all albums listed may be available in your country and some tracks previously available may no longer be playable due to regional restrictions.

Let us know what gems you find in this update.