Russell Simmons, Tim Robbins will produce video shows for Spotify

NEW YORK -- Spotify is upping its video game with a slate of new originals.

The Swedish music streaming service said Monday it will bring 12 new shows to the platform this year.

That includes programming from actor Tim Robbins, Def Jam Recordings co-founder Russell Simmons and Grammy-winning producer T Bone Burnett.

“We are developing original content that is rooted in music, pop culture, and animation that is driven by the passion and sense of humor of our audience,” said Tom Calderone, Global Head of Content Partnerships, in a statement. “We are working with artists, producers and partners who understand that the Spotify audience has a strong connection to artists and wants to go deeper into their worlds, see their performances and expressions, and hear their stories.”

"The Spotify audience has a strong connection to artists."

The service already boasts 75 million active users and 30 million paying subscribers, but Spotify's ambitions are to move well beyond those numbers. The new programming positions the company to add users who are looking for video content. Spotify competitors YouTube Red and Tidal already offer video on top of their streaming music services.

Spotify first announced its entry into video more than a year ago, and finally introduced video on mobile in January. 

All of the company's programming -- scheduled to debut in summer and fall -- revolves around music performances, music profiles and music culture.

"Drawn & Recorded," for example, is a series that features narration from Burnett and animation from Drew Christi. Each episode "tells a remarkable anecdote from music history."

"I have been working with Drew on another project with Elvis Costello," Burnett told Mashable in an email statement. "Drew sent me the animation for Blind Wilie in Space and asked me to narrate it, which I did. I loved the piece and I loved collaborating on it."

Meanwhile, "Rush Hour" will follow two hip-hop artists (one legend, one young buck) as they come up with a remix or mashup of a well-known track. Once done, they arrive at the downtown LA parking lot stage of Simmon’s new company All-Def Digital, where they perform their new collaboration before a crowd of super fans.

Robbins's "Ultimate/Ultimate," meanwhile, is a comedic mockumentary series that follows several passionate people competing in a competition to become the next great EDM star. 

Also on deck: 

• "Landmark" -- the story of an important moment or movement in music history

• "Life in Short" -- an anthology series "celebrating music’s most enigmatic artists"

• "Trading Playlists" -- where two celebrities trade Spotify playlists for a day

• "Singles" -- "fly-on-the-wall access to artists as they record new takes on their most well-known songs"

• "Rhymes & Misdemeanors" -- which profiles notorious crimes from the music world

• "Generations" -- where "two generations of hip-hop stars come together to create new versions of their most notable songs"

• "Public Spaces" -- where acts perform in some of the world’s great public spaces

• "Flash Frame" -- "Spotify’s rejuvenation of the music video format"

• "Focus On" -- a data-driven performance series.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.