Spotify added a "What's New" feed to their app, at long last. This is a page where users will find new releases from the artists they follow. Simple enough, yes? Should've probably been in the app for a long time now, right? This should drive a lot of traffic in Spotify beyond allowing users to see new tracks from their favorite artists and content creators too - because there's a bell, and a blue dot.
Spotify and Giphy, the platform that lets you easily find and share short animated images, have teamed up to combine the two products into one...sort of. The companies are enabling artists to combine their music with GIFs of their performance, but it won't work quite the way it sounds. Rather than a GIF playing music, the images will let users click through straight to the artist's Spotify page.
Spotify, the platform that has dominated music and, more recently, podcast streaming may be eyeing its next big thing: selling tickets to music events, including live and virtual concerts. That's according to a new report that cites people "familiar with the matter." This business expansion, assuming Spotify proceeds with it, would benefit from the company's existing mass of user data.
In late April, Epic announced that it would offer Fortnite Crew subscribers a free Spotify perk starting with the May bundle. The promotion went live days later as promised, giving subscribers who were new to Spotify the opportunity to access the platform's premium features for free. Fast-forward several weeks and the promo is nearly over.
Spotify has launched its own Clubhouse competitor, with Spotify Greenroom promising live audio and impromptu hosting, with a few useful extras for artists and creatives. Clubhouse proved to be a breakout hit of the pandemic, offering audio chatrooms with straightforward hosting tools, and it went on to prompt a spate of rivals.
Microsoft is giving Xbox a content upgrade, with Xbox Series X/S getting a quality boost in the Apple TV app, new Spotify video podcast support, and new Xbox Game Pass controls for Surface Duo. The new Dolby Vision support for Apple TV+ means a big uptick in contrast and colors, assuming you have a TV or projector that can handle the standard.
Spotify paved the way for this form of consuming music that lets one stream over the internet and enjoy based on mood, genre, and personal traits across various platforms. It is one of the fastest growing music streaming services - with no intention of slowing down - but not the only one. There are a handful of options, of which Apple Music is the most potent competitor. Both giants have a few things in common, from a monthly subscription to smart speaker support, but there are certain differences that make Spotify and Apple Music unique and valuable for certain types of audiophiles.
Spotify is at long last bringing offline playback to the Apple Watch, allowing wearers to download playlists, albums, and podcasts to their wrist and then listen later without either a data connection or their iPhone nearby. Apple Watch owners could until now access their music from the smartwatch, but offline support was limited to the paired smartphone.
Spotify, once a platform where you could only stream music, has made a big push into the podcast market, including the relatively recent launch of its own originals and exclusive shows. We've heard hints over the past several months that the company may be planning to do something similar with audiobooks, and a newly announced partnership seems to reinforce that idea.
Spotify has announced some new and updated accessibility features that help users navigate the app and enjoy the content. The most notable of the features, which is scheduled to arrive in 'coming weeks,' is an automatic podcast transcription tool that lets users read podcast episodes with or without audio playback.
Spotify is getting a new update today that serves up some intriguing features for those who use the platform to listen to podcasts or create Canvas videos to share on social media. You'll now be able to share timestamped podcasts, which allows your friends to begin listening precisely when you want them to. Spotify is also expanding the platforms supported by Canvas, spreading beyond just Instagram.
The European Commission has accused Apple of antitrust, alleging that its App Store rules rely on its "dominant position" to squeeze streaming music rivals like Spotify. The charges claim Apple's policies - in particular the 30-percent cut it takes on in-app subscriptions to competing streaming services - have led to an increase in prices paid by users in Europe. If found guilty of antitrust behaviors, Apple faces the potential of billions of dollars in fines.