Spotify has started rolling out a direct message feature inside its app, which the platform says is meant to make sharing music and other content easier.
The new feature, announced on Tuesday (August 26), will be available on mobile devices “in select markets” to both Free and Premium users, but only to those aged 16 and over, Spotify said.
“Spotify users have told us they want a dedicated space within the app to share songs, podcasts, or audiobooks they’re excited about with friends and family, and an easy way to keep track of recommendations,” the company said in a blog post.
“Messages also open up new opportunities for artists, authors, and creators—more users can spread the word about an artist’s track or creator’s podcast with their friends and family, helping drive discovery.”
To use the new DM feature, Spotify users can tap the share icon while listening to content in the Now Playing View, which will bring up a list of people the user has interacted with before through Spotify – that is, users who share a Family or Duo plan, or who’ve interacted through collaborative playlists, Jams or Blends.
Hitting “send” will share that content with the selected friend, and they will have the option to accept or reject the message request.
Users can also opt out of DMs altogether through the Settings menu.
Spotify’s DMs support text and emojis, but the company is quick to point out it’s not aiming to replace other social media platforms.
“As always, you should continue sharing Spotify content directly through your favorite platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, and more,” the company noted.
“Messages on Spotify are designed to complement these integrations, not replace them.”
“Messages… open up new opportunities for artists, authors, and creators—more users can spread the word about an artist’s track or creator’s podcast with their friends and family, helping drive discovery.”
Spotify
DM chats are not fully end-to-end encrypted, but Spotify says they are protected with “encryption in transit and at rest”.
The platform plans to “utilize proactive detection technology to scan messages for certain unlawful and harmful content, and our moderators will review reported content.”
Users will also have the option to report content they believe violates the Terms of Use or Platform Rules, by holding down the message and clicking on “report.”
The new DM feature comes amid Spotify’s ongoing efforts to expand its content offerings, such as podcasts and audiobooks, and develop a new “super-Premium” tier, possibly branded as “Music Pro,” which according to at least one news report could launch as soon as this year.
It also comes in the wake of a series of price hikes, something the music industry has long been calling for. The latest round of price increases was announced earlier this month, and affected a number of markets in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Spotify Co-President and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström hinted at more price hikes ahead, saying price adjustments are now “part of the toolbox” at the company.
Norström also said the company is confident it can reach 1 billion paid subscribers, noting that around 3% of the world’s population currently has a paid subscription, so “there’s just so much more runway” to grow the subscriber base.
Spotify’s paid subscriber base grew to 276 million in Q2 2205, up 12% year-over-year.Music Business Worldwide
