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Spotify launches a cremation urn speaker, and yes, it streams playlists

Rajesh — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:24:34 +0000

Spotify has teamed up with Liquid Death for what might be one of its strangest hardware experiments yet — a Bluetooth speaker shaped like a cremation urn.

The product is called the Eternal Playlist Urn. It looks like something you’d expect to see on a mantelpiece, except it’s not designed to hold ashes. Instead, it’s a collectible speaker with a built-in Bluetooth system tucked into the lid.

Spotify says only 150 units will be sold in the United States, each priced at $495. Buyers get a 7-inch by 11.4-inch urn-shaped device that streams music and little else.

A Bluetooth speaker dressed for the afterlife

According to Spotify, this is “the world’s first urn speaker that can stream music.” In a blog post announcing the collaboration, Spotify wrote, “Life needs the music. So does the afterlife.”

The idea is simple. Once you receive the urn speaker, you can create what Spotify calls an “Eternal Playlist.” Users answer prompts such as “What’s your eternal vibe?” or “What’s your go-to ghost noise?” Based on those answers — along with your listening history — Spotify generates a custom playlist that can sync directly to the speaker. The playlist can also be shared with friends and family, turning the urn into a kind of permanent soundtrack device.

It’s not the first time Spotify has ventured into hardware, though those efforts have been limited. In 2022, the company partnered with IKEA on a portable Bluetooth lightbox speaker with Spotify quick-play functionality.

Before that, it launched Car Thing, a dashboard accessory meant to make streaming easier in older vehicles. Car Thing has since been discontinued, and Spotify has yet to introduce a standalone smart speaker under its own brand.

Liquid Death, meanwhile, has built its reputation on absurd and sometimes morbid marketing. The canned water company has released over-the-top products before, including a life-size snowman coffin-shaped cooler that reportedly drew more than 800 bidders and sold for $68,200. The brand thrives on turning dark humor into limited-edition merchandise, and the Eternal Playlist Urn fits neatly into that strategy.

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OnePlus, Oppo team up with Spotify for in-app gaming overlay

Rajesh — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:06:23 +0000

Music and mobile gaming often go hand-in-hand, but switching between apps to control playback can disrupt the flow. In a move to streamline this experience, OnePlus and Oppo have partnered with Spotify to introduce a new in-app gaming overlay.

According to a recent X post (formerly Twitter) by Pete Lau, chief product officer at OPPO and founder of OnePlus, select users will now have access to a special overlay within the Spotify app. This overlay allows you to play games on your phone while simultaneously controlling your music playback.

Essentially, you won’t have to constantly switch between the Spotify app and your game to adjust volume, skip tracks, or pause your music. This could be a major convenience for those who enjoy jamming out while grinding away at their favorite mobile titles.

The focus here seems to be on streamlining the experience for users who like to game with music in the background. Both companies are hoping that by integrating these functionalities within a single interface, they can make things a bit more seamless.

However, there’s a slight catch: for now, it’s unclear exactly which regions will get access to this new feature. The rollout appears to be limited at the moment, and more details about availability in different markets are expected to be revealed soon.

This collaboration between OnePlus, OPPO, and Spotify does mark a somewhat novel approach to merging music streaming with mobile gaming. It could set a new trend in terms of smartphone feature development and cross-app functionality.

If you’re rocking a OnePlus or OPPO device and reside in a region that gets this update, keep an eye out for the new overlay option within your Spotify app. Once available, you can explore the gaming tools and music control features it offers and see if they enhance your on-the-go entertainment experience.

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Spotify India offering 3 Months of Premium for Rs 59 (Limited Time)

Sudhanshu — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:08:26 +0000

Music lovers in India, rejoice! Spotify is offering a limited-time deal for new users to enjoy ad-free music for 3 months at just Rs 59. This offer ends on August 25th, 2024, after which the regular price of Rs 119 per month applies.

Benefits of Premium:

Listen to music without interruptions.
Download songs for offline listening.
Play any song you want, whenever you want.
Enjoy high-quality audio for a richer listening experience.
Listen together with friends in real-time with Group Sessions.
Organize your listening with a customizable queue.

Who Can Get This Deal?

This discounted offer is available only for users who haven’t previously subscribed to Spotify Premium.

If you love music and want to ditch the ads, this is a great opportunity to try Spotify Premium. You can easily pay using BHIM UPI, BharatPe, Google Pay, or Paytm.

Other Subscription Options:

Spotify offers various plans to suit your needs:

Family Plan (up to 6 members): Rs 179 for 2 months (then Rs 179/month)
Duo Plan (2 members): Rs 149 for 2 months (then Rs 149/month)
Student Plan: Rs 59 for 2 months (then Rs 59/month)

In other news, Amazon has launched a new bundle for cloud gaming, offering a Fire TV Stick 4K or 4K Max paired with an Xbox Controller and a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This follows a partnership with Microsoft to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to Fire TV Sticks in over 25 countries starting July 2024. The Xbox app, available on the Amazon App Store, allows Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play games using a Bluetooth-enabled controller. This setup provides a cost-effective alternative to a dedicated gaming console.

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Spotify will Charge its Users $5 Extra Each Month for the Hi-Fi Audio Feature in the Premium Tier

Anubhav — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:53:45 +0000

Spotify is reportedly on the verge of launching a high-fidelity audio add-on for its streaming service according to a Bloomberg report. This premium tier is expected to cost an additional $5 per month and will come with several new features besides improved audio quality.

Spotify previously announced its hi-fi audio plans for 2021

Existing Spotify Premium subscribers will have the option to add the HiFi tier to their current plan, bringing the total monthly cost to $16.99 (considering the upcoming base price increase to $11.99 for Premium). Bloomberg’s report suggests this add-on will also include playlist creation tools designed for specific activities, dates, or times of year. Spotify originally announced its HiFi audio plans for 2021, but the launch never materialized. Since then, rumors have swirled about the specifics of this premium tier. Last year, Bloomberg reported on a potential “Supremium” HiFi plan with a higher price point. Another report, from The Wall Street Journal, suggested the add-on might bundle a remix feature allowing users to adjust the playback speed of tracks.

Code discovered within the Spotify app in 2023 offered further clues about the potential features of the HiFi add-on. This leaked code hinted at the inclusion of 24-bit lossless audio, AI-powered playlist creation, and a mood-based song filtering tool for playlists. More recently, a Reddit user discovered code mentioning “lossless has arrived” within the app, followed by another user sharing leaked UI elements that referenced lossless quality reaching up to 2,117kbps and the availability of 24-bit/44.1kHz for specific songs using the FLAC audio format.

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Have a Look at Spotify’s New Miniplayer, Reserved for Premium Members Only

Anubhav — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 17:00:02 +0000

Spotify is introducing a new feature for desktop users called the Miniplayer, designed to provide streamlined music and podcast control without disrupting workflow. The Miniplayer caters to both music listeners and podcast enthusiasts, offering playback controls for all audio content. Notably, video podcasts can be viewed in picture-in-picture mode with adjustable sizing for a more customizable experience.

Users won’t be distracted by Spotify’s UI elements when they want to change a song

A key feature of the Miniplayer is its unintrusive nature. It floats above other applications, allowing users to access essential controls like volume adjustment, track skipping, and shuffle functionality without needing to switch to the full Spotify window. This can be particularly beneficial for users who listen to music or podcasts while working on other tasks, minimizing distractions.

The Miniplayer coexists seamlessly with the main Spotify app. Users can switch between the two interfaces at will without affecting playback. This eliminates the potential pitfall of getting sidetracked by browsing recommendations while attempting to perform a simple action within the Spotify app.

For users who prefer a more customized experience, the Miniplayer offers adjustable size and shape options. It can be transformed into a square, rectangle, or a sleek bar to fit the available screen space and individual preferences. Additionally, a minimal “pill” size is available, offering basic controls while maintaining a low visual profile, ideal for discreet music management on a busy desktop.

Currently, the Miniplayer is exclusive to Spotify Premium subscribers. It can be accessed through a dedicated icon located in the bottom right corner of the desktop app, positioned between the volume and full-screen buttons.

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Google’s Secret Deal Allowed Spotify to Bypass Play Store Fees

Oğuz Çakır — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:37:00 +0000

The Play Store and the App Store are the two most popular app stores in the world. Both are so massive that their economic volumes are worth billions of dollars. But how do Google and Apple profit from this? Well, they make gains through commissions, often reaching up to 15-30%. Every app on these platforms is required to pay a commission to the company based on its earnings. The amount of these commissions sometimes becomes a topic of debate. However, you might have noticed that this issue is particularly prominent on the Apple side. It seems that Google, on the other hand, is providing significant favoritism to its favorites. Here are the details…

Spotify’s juicy Google deal saved it from Play Store fees

A significant deal between Google and Spotify has come to light. According to testimony given by Don Harrison, Google’s executive responsible for international partnerships, during Google’s legal battle with Epic Games, the agreement between Google and Spotify was quite generous. In this deal, Spotify did not pay any commission to Google for users who paid their subscription fees using Spotify’s own payment method. For users making purchases using Google’s payment method, the commission paid was only 4%.

Harrison used a striking expression to explain the reasons behind this agreement. According to a Google official, Spotify had an “unprecedented” level of popularity and needed to work perfectly within the Android ecosystem. Harrison stated that they granted privileges to Spotify because they believed that otherwise, users might consider moving away from Android.

Spotify was known as a company that strongly criticized commission rates, especially in the case involving Apple and Epic Games. In the legal dispute with Epic Games, the company went so far as to accuse Apple of monopolizing the market. In fact, a few months ago, Spotify made a decision to stop accepting payments through the App Store, aiming to avoid paying commissions to Apple.

Spotify Announces Layoffs for Almost 1500 Employees across the Company

Anubhav — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 14:22:52 +0000

Spotify, a leading music streaming platform, recently announced a significant workforce reduction, affecting 17% of its employees. This decision by CEO Daniel Ek, coming as a surprise just before the holiday season, aims to address the company’s financial challenges and align its operational costs with its financial goals.

Spotify surged in 2020 and 2021 fueled by lower capital costs

Despite a strong performance and a positive earnings report, Ek explained that the company faced a stark choice between making smaller reductions over the next two years or taking decisive action now. Opting for the latter, Ek stressed the need for a substantial adjustment to right-size the company’s costs to meet its objectives, acknowledging the pain this decision would cause to the team.

The backdrop to this decision is Spotify’s rapid expansion in 2020 and 2021, fueled by lower capital costs. These investments paid off, contributing to the company’s growth. However, even after previous layoffs in early 2023 and May, cutting about 8% of its workforce, Ek noted that the company’s cost structure remained too large for its future needs.

Approximately 1,500 employees will be impacted by this latest round of layoffs. To ease the transition, Spotify plans to offer an average of five months of severance pay, healthcare coverage during this period, and immigration and career support.

Ek’s announcement underlines the necessity for Spotify to adopt a leaner operational model in its next phase. This follows the introduction of a revamped royalty model aimed at increasing payouts to working artists while reducing fraudulent streams.

Spotify has consistently grown its user base, now boasting 574 million monthly active users, a 26% increase year-over-year. Despite this growth, profitability has been elusive, with recent quarters showing rare profits. Ek promises more details on the implications of these changes in the coming weeks.

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Spotify Returns to Profitability in Q3, Fueled by Strong User Growth and Ad Revenue

Oğuz Çakır — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 23:31:09 +0000

If you’re a bit older than 20, you probably remember the times when we used programs like LimeWire to listen to music or searched “YouTube MP3 converter” on Google. Particularly for those who didn’t live in Europe or America, this was once the only reasonable way to listen to the music we wanted.

That is, until platforms like Spotify and Apple Music came into our lives. These apps, which completely transformed our habits, have become the standard due to their accessible pricing and user-friendly interfaces, and it seems like this won’t change anytime soon. In fact, Spotify reported a profitable third quarter, with an increase in paying customers despite the price hike. Here are the details…

Spotify reports profitable Q3, paying customers increased despite the price hike

Spotify has released its report for the third quarter of 2023. In this quarter, the company reported a profit, which is a significant improvement compared to the losses of the previous year. During this period, monthly active users increased by 26% year-over-year to reach 574 million, surpassing the guidance by 2 million users.

What’s even more crucial for the platform is that the number of paid subscribers also grew by 16% year-over-year, reaching 226 million. It’s worth noting that Spotify recently made some previously free features exclusive to Premium subscribers, a move that has had a significant impact on user decisions.

Another noteworthy detail in the Q3 2023 report released by Spotify is the 11% year-over-year growth in total revenue, which reached €3.4 billion, surpassing the expected results. However, despite all these positive developments, the one aspect where Spotify hasn’t completely met the expectations of its user base is its commitment to providing a lossless streaming tier. Audiophile users have been eagerly anticipating Spotify’s lossless audio offering, rumored to be called the “Supremium” tier, priced at $19.99 per month and including extra features.

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Spotify cuts down free features to push for premium subscriptions in India

Sudhanshu — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 06:13:28 +0000

Music streaming giant Spotify is introducing changes to its free tier in India, potentially hampering the user experience. Effective immediately, free Spotify users in India will no longer have access to functions like repeat, rewind to specific song sections, backtrack to previous songs, or customize playlist orders. These adjustments were implemented as reported by Musically, and Spotify will also communicate these alterations through in-app notifications.

Instead, Spotify is adopting ‘Smart Shuffle’ as the default playback method for free-tier users. Smart Shuffle introduces songs outside of your playlist, based on your listening habits. This means the traditional shuffle option is no longer accessible to free users.

This shift suggests Spotify’s strategy to encourage free-tier users to consider premium subscriptions. By modifying the free experience, the company might nudge users towards a more versatile and seamless paid service. That being said, removing basic features like rewind and going to the previous song is sure to leave a bad taste in the mouths of many users.

As these changes go into effect, it remains to be seen how Indian users respond to this new free tier experience and whether it motivates them to explore premium subscription options or switch to platforms like YouTube Music that still offer these features for free.

In related news, Spotify might be getting ready to launch a better music quality service, called “Supremium.” While we don’t know all the details yet, it could let you arrange your playlists by danceability, tempo, and key. There might be smart playlists and a feature called “Soundcheck” that helps you find music you like.

Spotify’s Rumored “Supremium” Tier with Lossless Music May Be Close to Launch

Anubhav — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 16:32:03 +0000

Are you tired of waiting for Spotify‘s long-promised HiFi tier? Well, new clues suggest it may be closer to reality than ever. A Reddit user has dived deep into Spotify’s app code and unveiled the possibility of a “Supremium” tier, which aims to provide 24-bit Lossless music, touted to be free from “lag and delays.”

An AI feature in the new tier can probably recommend new music and patterns

While the details remain speculative, what we know is pretty intriguing. Imagine being able to sort your playlists by “danceability” or customizing them based on tempo and key. Sounds fun, right? That’s not all. The tier might also offer smooth transitions between tracks, nixing those awkward moments of silence, and introduce mood-based or genre-specific filtering options.

Here’s the kicker: AI-driven playlists and a feature called “Soundcheck” could be on the cards. Think of Soundcheck as a combination of Spotify Wrapped and Daily Mixes, essentially giving you insights into your listening habits and personalized music recommendations.

Wait, audiobook lovers, you’re in luck as well. Supremium could potentially offer 30 hours of audiobooks each month, a feature bound to shake up how you consume content on the platform.

As for the cost, Supremium is currently tagged at $20 per month, more expensive than any existing Spotify Premium plans, but in line with Tidal’s 24-bit HiFi Plus offering. The price, of course, is subject to change if and when this becomes official.

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Spotify trials making in-app lyrics feature part of paid subscription

Jeet — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 01:38:04 +0000

Spotify, one of the leading music streaming platforms, has a fast-growing user base, but the paid subscribers of the platform are not growing as fast as the number of free users.

In a bid to increase the conversion of free subscribers into paid ones, Spotify seems to be exploring putting some of the features behind a paywall, only accessible to the paid subscribers.

In the latest development, Spotify appears to have locked down the lyrics feature, which shows the lyrics of the currently playing song on the screen, behind a paywall. For the free users, the company is showing a message that reads: “Enjoy lyrics on Spotify Premium.”

According to the company’s PR executive CJ Stanley, the change is not yet permanent as the company is currently testing it with a limited number of users in a couple of markets. Since the company is testing the feature, it’s safe to assume that it has plans to roll out the feature on the platform.

Spotify has revealed that its monthly users on the ad-supported tier or the free subscribers have increased by 34 percent over the last year, reaching 343 million. On the other hand, the number of paid subscribers increased by 17 percent to 220 million.

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Spotify Rolls out New, Refreshed Widgets for Android

Anubhav — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 02:36:12 +0000

Spotify, the global streaming giant, recently updated its widget offerings for Android users. This development not only serves as a win for widget enthusiasts but also repositions widgets as indispensable tools in today’s fast-paced digital age.

Users can update the app to see the new Widgets on their home screen

After a two-year hiatus on widget updates, Spotify rolled out two new variants designed to make life easier for its millions of users. The first, a ‘basic’ widget, fulfills standard needs—it shows the currently playing track, and its album art, and offers basic media controls.

The second widget is where the magic happens. Not only does it show what’s currently playing, but it also offers personalized recommendations—ranging from songs and albums to podcasts and audiobooks—based on user preferences. The widget can expand up to a 5×2 size, displaying up to five personalized suggestions below the currently playing track.

These new widgets were launched with version 8.8.50, and if you haven’t updated your Spotify app yet, you might want to hit that update button soon.

This move by Spotify also opens up a dialogue on the relevance of widgets in our day-to-day digital interactions. If you own a tablet used as a centralized media and smart home control, Spotify’s new widgets could offer a streamlined, user-friendly experience, all available at a single touch on your home screen.

In a world quick to embrace the ‘new,’ Spotify’s widget update serves as a reminder that some traditional features, like widgets, still have a lot to offer. The update is not merely a feature rollout; it’s a counter-argument to the growing perception that widgets have lost their utility. So, are widgets here to stay? If Spotify’s bold move is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes.

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Spotify rolls out its AI DJ to 50 regions

Sean — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 12:42:16 +0000

The popular streaming service, Spotify, has started rolling out its new artificial intelligence-based DJ feature to 50 new regions across the globe. The feature was first introduced earlier this year and is seeing a broader release now.

Spotify AI DJ: What does it do?

For those unaware, the music streaming platform is bringing the new AI-powered DJ, which combines its personalization technology with generative AI and a dynamic AI voice. This basically offers users commentary in English and get recommendations based on their music preferences. In other words, the feature essentially is an interactive DJ.

As per official notes, the DJ feature will help introduce users to new songs or artists that they might have skipped previously. The new AI DJ is a feature exclusive to its Spotify Premium users. Subscribers simply need to open their app and head to the music feed on home and tap DJ. You can even access the feature from the Made for You section on the Search tab.

Which country gets Spotify DJ?

The streaming service is currently available for Premium users in Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, Botswana, Burundi, Canada, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

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Spotify to Soon Hike Prices for its Ad-Free Premium Music Plans

Anubhav — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 02:24:00 +0000

In a market that has seen a surge in music streaming services, Spotify has stood out as one of the few platforms that resisted increasing its subscription prices. However, recent reports suggest that this will soon change, as Spotify is preparing to raise its monthly subscription fees in the United States by $1. While this might not seem like a significant increase, it marks a shift in Spotify’s pricing strategy, which has remained steady at $9.99 for its ad-free Premium plan for quite some time.

The Music Streaming industry is growing rapidly as catalogues grow and more people get a subscription

The news of the impending price hike comes in the wake of other major players in the music streaming industry having already raised their prices over the past year. While Spotify initially benefited from an influx of customers who switched to its service due to the price hikes by its competitors, the company now appears to be following suit to cut its losses and retain its user base in the long run.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Spotify is expected to make the official announcement of the price increase in the US market as early as next week. The new subscription fee of $10.99 for the ad-free plan will likely take effect shortly after the announcement. While this may be disappointing news for existing Spotify subscribers, it’s important to note that price hikes are expected to be announced in other markets as well. Some companies are even laying their employees off in crazy numbers to keep up with the inflation in the economy.

Currently, Spotify offers a free, ad-supported plan that grants access to a vast library of over 80 million songs, podcasts, and audiobooks. However, this plan comes with certain limitations, such as the presence of ads, the inability to download content for offline listening, and the restriction to play songs in specific playlists only. The Premium plan, which will now cost $10.99 in the US, provides subscribers with an ad-free experience, the ability to download music and podcasts for offline listening, and the freedom to listen to any track in any order. Additionally, Premium subscribers enjoy the highest music quality available on Spotify (which is not the best in the competition, unfortunately), ensuring a better listening experience.

Students can avail a 50% discount on the Premium plan for up to 4 years, making it more affordable for those pursuing their education. For couples living together, the Premium Duo plan offers two individual Premium accounts at a discounted price. Furthermore, families can opt for the Premium Family plan, which covers up to 6 individuals with their own Premium accounts, and it comes with Spotify Kids and an explicit content filter.

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Spotify Considers Adding Music Videos to its Streaming Service

Anubhav — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 01:36:08 +0000

In an effort to expand its feature portfolio and compete with rivals, Spotify is reportedly considering the addition of full-length music videos to its platform. While the streaming service has declined to comment, sources from Bloomberg reveal that Spotify is in talks with potential partners to make this feature a reality. Although it remains uncertain who would support this new offering and when it might be available, this move could significantly enhance the user experience on the popular music streaming platform.

Spotify Canvas is similar, but the new feature will include full music videos

Currently, Spotify’s video content is limited to podcasts, short storytelling clips, and looping GIFs that accompany songs. While the company introduced a TikTok-like home feed earlier this year, it primarily focuses on music and podcast discovery rather than video viewing. Previous attempts by Spotify to incorporate TV content from networks like Comedy Central and ESPN were not successful.

The idea of incorporating music videos into streaming music services is not new, as Apple Music has been offering this feature for years. However, Spotify’s inclusion of music videos would help it rival Apple’s offerings and potentially attract users who would otherwise watch videos on YouTube. Furthermore, it would provide additional content for the new feed and entice music enthusiasts from popular social networks such as Instagram and TikTok.

Although music videos themselves do not generate significant direct revenue, they serve as a supplement to audio income and increase exposure for musicians. Platforms like YouTube offer creators a share of ad revenue, with an average of $18 per 1,000 views, which is then divided among artists, labels, and other stakeholders. The inclusion of music videos on Spotify could serve as an additional revenue stream for the company, especially considering the recent staff layoffs it underwent to mitigate economic challenges and business missteps.

By adding music videos to its platform, Spotify aims to diversify its content and potentially boost its financial outlook. Unlike podcasts, which require a large production team, music videos could improve the company’s finances without significant resource investments.

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Spotify Enhances Desktop Experience with Revamped ‘Your Library’ and ‘Now Playing’ Design

Anubhav — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 06:13:56 +0000

Spotify, the popular music streaming platform, is set to revolutionize the desktop experience for its users with a major revamp. The redesigned Your Library and Now Playing view aims to provide a seamless and immersive way to explore, curate, listen to, and organize music on computers and web browsers.

Artist information, such as Tour Dates & Merchandise will be more easily accessible

While retaining the main content area as the central hub for browsing and discovering recommended songs and podcasts, Spotify has introduced several new additions to align the desktop experience with its mobile app. On the left-hand side of the application window, users will find the new Your Library, offering quick access to their saved music and podcast collections. Initial feedback suggests that the new Library saves time, provides a better overview, and facilitates effortless switching between playlists.

On the right-hand side, the Now Playing view prominently displays the currently playing song or podcast. Additionally, users can access more information about the track and artist, including tour dates and merchandise, making it easier to connect with favorite artists and discover more about them. For select podcasts, listeners can even follow along with transcripts while they listen.

The redesigned Your Library and Now Playing views offer individually customizable designs, providing a richer experience, more context, and quicker access to personal favorites. The aim is to enhance user engagement and satisfaction with the desktop application.

Spotify offers valuable tips to enhance the desktop experience. Users can go compact by collapsing the library view to see only playlist icons. The new Library design allows for easy search and filtering within users’ personal collection. Customization options are available, allowing users to resize Your Library and Now Playing according to their preferences. Additionally, playlists can be pinned, moved, and songs can be conveniently added through drag-and-drop functionality. These tips empower users to optimize their Spotify desktop experience and make the most of the redesigned features.

The new Your Library and Now Playing design will begin rolling out to all Spotify Desktop users worldwide today. Users are encouraged to try out the enhanced experience by launching their own music, or signature Spotify playlists on their desktop or web browsers.

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Spotify CEO Teases a “Your Offline Mix” Playlist Feature

Anubhav — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 03:28:03 +0000

In a recent tweet, the CEO of Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming platform, unveiled an exciting new feature called “Your Offline Mix.” This innovative addition aims to revolutionize how users enjoy music, especially focusing towards those moments when internet access might be limited. With this groundbreaking feature, Spotify is taking a bold step forward, ensuring that users can have an uninterrupted musical experience regardless of their online connectivity.

You can expect “Your Offline Mix” to be available anytime, regardless of Internet Connectivity

“Your Offline Mix” is a specially curated playlist that combines the best of both worlds: personalization and offline accessibility. Spotify’s algorithms come into play as it analyzes users’ listening habits, musical preferences, and favorite genres to craft a unique compilation tailored to their tastes. Whether you’re on a plane, underground in a subway, or simply in an area with poor connectivity, this feature will seemingly provide a seamless listening experience.

This feature will also hold meaning for individuals in remote areas or regions with limited internet connectivity. Whether it’s during long journeys, outdoor adventures, or simply a desire to disconnect from the digital world, “Your Offline Mix” is made for users who want to enjoy their favorite music regardless of their location. It fosters a sense of freedom and flexibility, as listeners can indulge in their favorite tracks without being tethered to, and chased by an internet connection.

Cross-Device Synchronization would be a cool feature that could accompany “Your Offline Mix” in the future, where users don’t necessarily need to manually download their Offline Mix, instead, their Offline Mix Playlists automatically sync between their laptops, phones etc. The possibilities are endless. More information regarding “Your Offline Mix” should be available fairly soon, so stay tuned for more news from Spotify.

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Elon Musk and Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek Slam Apple’s App Store Policy Over Twitter

Anubhav — Mon, 01 May 2023 05:15:41 +0000

Over the weekend, two of the world’s most prominent CEOs, Daniel Ek of Spotify and Elon Musk of Tesla, took to Twitter to criticize Apple’s App Store policies. Musk, in particular, called it a “battle for the future of civilization” and criticized the company’s app review system. The issue at hand is Apple’s 30% revenue share rule for in-app subscriptions of digital content, which has previously drawn the ire of both Ek and Musk. This policy has been a thorn in the side of many app developers, including Spotify and now Twitter.

Apple is taking a 30% cut of Twitter’s Revenue

While some argue that Apple’s policy is necessary to maintain a level playing field and ensure fair competition among developers, others see it as a greedy cash grab that stifles innovation and limits consumer choice.

Elon Musk’s recent acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion has only added fuel to the fire. With so much money at stake, it’s no wonder Musk is pushing for a subscription-based model and seeking to maximize profits. But with so much money at stake, it’s no wonder Musk is pushing for a subscription-based model and seeking to maximize profits.

At the end of the day, this battle is not just about money, it’s about control. Apple wants to maintain its grip on the App Store and the digital content market, while developers like Musk and Ek are pushing for more freedom and autonomy. It remains to be seen who will come out on top, but one thing is clear: the future of the digital content industry is at stake, and the outcome of this battle will have far-reaching implications for years to come.

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YouTube Music gets Podcast Support in the US

Anubhav — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 03:22:46 +0000

More people are listening to podcasts these days due to their convenience, accessibility, and the vast array of content available. Podcasts can be downloaded and listened to at any time, making them perfect for busy schedules. They can also be listened to on a wide range of devices, from smartphones to smart speakers, making them accessible to virtually anyone. Additionally, podcasts cover a wide range of topics and interests, and listeners can easily find content that aligns with their personal preferences. The rise of popular podcast platforms and the proliferation of high-quality podcasts has further fueled their popularity. To provide a wide range of options for its users, YouTube has added Podcasts to the YouTube Music app.

YouTube Music won’t have Original Podcasts as Spotify does

YouTube Music has officially entered the podcast game, allowing users in the US to stream audio and video podcasts on its Android and iOS app without a premium subscription. The feature will also let you cast shows to other devices and play them in the background, making for easy listening. However, paying members will still have to tolerate host-read ads. The addition of podcasts may seem redundant given Google’s Podcasts app, but it does unify listening for YouTube Music subscribers and could make it a more attractive alternative to Spotify. While YouTube won’t be producing original podcasts like Spotify, the feature has been added to entice more users and compete with other streaming platforms. It’s a great move for YouTube to offer more options to its users and become a one-stop-shop for all audio needs.

Spotify and YouTube Music are two of the biggest music streaming platforms in the world, and they’re constantly competing with each other to attract and retain users. While Spotify is primarily focused on music, it has also been expanding its offerings to include podcasts and other audio content – even audiobooks. YouTube Music, on the other hand, has been ramping up its podcast efforts, as seen above. Both platforms offer unique features, but the competition between them is fierce. Ultimately, the competition benefits the consumers as both platforms continue to improve and innovate.

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Behind the Music: Why Spotify’s Growth Isn’t Translating to Financial Stability

Anubhav — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 04:21:40 +0000

Spotify is a popular music streaming platform that allows users to access a vast collection of songs, podcasts, and other audio content from all over the world. It offers a personalized experience through its various features, such as curated playlists, algorithmic recommendations, and social sharing. The platform is available on multiple devices, including smartphones, computers, and smart speakers, making it convenient for users to listen to their favourite music anytime and anywhere. Additionally, Spotify offers both free and premium subscription options, allowing users to choose the level of access they desire. It is currently the most used music streaming app worldwide, but in spite of that, the company doesn’t seem to be doing well lately.

Spotify lost $248 Million in Q1 2023

Despite being one of the biggest names in music streaming, Spotify has been struggling to turn a profit in recent years. Reports show that the company lost $248 million in the first quarter of 2023, even as its subscriber count continues to grow. This begs the question: why is Spotify losing money? One reason could be that unlike its competitors, such as Apple, Google, and Amazon, Spotify relies solely on its music streaming service to generate revenue. Although it has expanded into podcasts and audiobooks in certain regions, it remains to be seen whether these ventures will bring in enough profit to make the company more financially stable.

Spotify could pursue various strategies to increase its profitability, including expanding into new markets, increasing the price of its premium subscription service, exploring alternative revenue streams such as advertising or partnerships with brands, and creating exclusive content through artist partnerships. By balancing growth with financial stability, Spotify can remain competitive in the music streaming market and achieve long-term success.

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Universal Music Group Takes Action Against AI for Copyright Infringement

Anubhav — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 06:36:30 +0000

AI-generated music is becoming increasingly popular as technology advances. With the use of machine learning algorithms and neural networks, AI can analyze large datasets of existing music and create new compositions based on patterns and structures found in the data. Since AI is capable of analyzing and creating music based on existing data, it is possible that AI-generated music could be seen as a derivative work and infringe upon the copyrights of the original composers. This raises questions about who owns the rights to the music created by AI, and whether AI can be considered a “creator” in its own right. Additionally, there is concern that this music could lead to a loss of jobs for human composers and musicians, as well as a potential loss of artistic expression and creativity. It is important for the music industry and legal system to address these ethical concerns and establish clear guidelines for the use and ownership of AI-generated music.

Universal Music seems to be doing just that, since it has called on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple to prevent AI from using its copyrighted songs. The worry is that AI bots are using Universal Music’s songs to train themselves to make music that sounds like popular musicians. As a result, Universal Music Group is trying to take action to protect its copyrighted material from being used without its permission. This has led to debates over whether AI can create original works or whether it’s simply using pre-existing material to generate new songs. While AI-generated music has shown potential for creating new and exciting sounds, it’s important that the music industry addresses concerns around copyright infringement and ownership to ensure that artists and labels are fairly compensated for their work.

Many artists and musicians are slowly embracing AI technology as a tool for creativity and inspiration. However, since one of the major ethical dilemmas surrounding AI-generated music is the question of ownership and intellectual property, we will see more and more music labels coming forward to protect the intellectual rights associated with their artists in the future, that’s for sure.

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Spotify Introduces Niche Mixes, a Cool Way to Generate Personalized Playlists for Anything

Anubhav — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 01:19:39 +0000

Spotify is a music streaming platform that allows users to access a vast library of songs, podcasts, and other audio content from around the world. The platform offers both free and paid subscription plans, allowing users to access ad-supported or ad-free content, as well as additional features such as offline listening and higher audio quality. Spotify’s personalized recommendation algorithms suggest content based on a user’s listening history and preferences, and the platform has become a popular destination for discovering new music and podcasts.

Spotify’s playlist customization just got even better with their new Niche Mixes feature. Expanding upon the mood, decades, and genre playlists introduced last year, this new feature allows users to generate personalized algorithmic mixes for virtually any mood or genre. Simply type in the activity you want to accompany and add “mix” at the end to get started. Spotify’s selection is pretty impressive, as it successfully creates playlists that are not only fitting but also offer a balance of familiar and lesser-known tracks. However, there are times when the mix may not be a precise match, like when asking for a “dubstep work mix” but receiving a workout playlist instead. Regardless, the feature is available to both free and premium users who search in English, making it a fantastic addition to Spotify’s already vast library.

Spotify uses artificial intelligence (AI) to recommend playlists to its users. The platform’s algorithms analyze users’ listening history, search behavior, and playlist creations to generate personalized playlists that fit their unique taste in music. By incorporating machine learning, Spotify can learn from users’ listening habits and continuously improve the recommendations provided. Additionally, the platform offers a Discover Weekly playlist every Monday, which is generated based on users’ previous listening and includes new songs and artists that the user may enjoy. With these AI-powered features, Spotify provides an exceptional listening experience tailored to each user’s musical preferences.

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Apple Music is Going Classical

Anubhav — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 06:03:15 +0000

Apple Music is a popular music streaming service that was launched in 2015 by Apple Inc. It provides users with access to millions of songs, playlists, and music videos, all available on demand. Users can also listen to live radio stations, curated playlists, and exclusive content from their favourite artists. The service is available on various devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, and it requires a monthly subscription fee. The company’s latest addition to the Apple Music family is definitely interesting, with the service entering the realm of classical music.

While it shares many similarities with Apple’s existing service, such as high-quality streaming up to 192 kHz/24 bit lossless formats, exclusive content, comprehensive search options, and the signature Apple UI layout, it’s dedicated to music styles like those of Johann Sebastian Bach and Johannes Brahms. The app is set to launch later this month and will be free to download, but requires an Apple Music subscription (except for the Voice Plan) to use. It will be exclusively available on iOS (15.4 or newer). An Android version will be available soon enough.

It’s worth noting that Apple’s move to launch Music Classical may be a strategic response to Spotify’s recent introduction of its major UI overhaul. The new Home feed and “experience,” unveiled at the Stream On conference, features an increased number of previews, shortcuts, and discovery-friendly feed items, along with recommendations, all in portrait mode. While Spotify has yet to confirm when this new user interface will be rolled out to Premium and Free users worldwide, it’s expected to be released soon as well. The company also recently rolled out its plus button update that replaces the heart button originally present in the old Spotify version.

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Spotify’s Redesigned Homescreen Looks Like TikTok, Instagram & YouTube Combined

Anubhav — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 04:09:44 +0000

Spotify has announced a redesigned homescreen that aims to help users discover new content, including video podcasts and other forms of audio. The update features a feed that is more image-heavy and vertical-scrolling, which resembles the layout of social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. The redesign comes as Spotify seeks to position itself as more than just a music app, with CEO Daniel Ek hoping to attract over 50 million “audio creators” to the platform. Spotify has invested heavily in podcasts, audiobooks, and live audio in recent years, and the redesign reflects the company’s broader ambitions.

The homescreen update will showcase autoplaying video podcasts and large photos, providing more information about playlists and podcasts. The app’s top section will still feature album and playlist covers, but users can now tap on “Music” or “Podcasts & Shows” to access a vertically scrolling feed that resembles Instagram Stories, TikTok or YouTube Shorts. The new feature allows users to quickly preview songs and playlists without diving in fully, with each item autoplaying to provide a sense of what it is. The redesign also emphasizes getting users into new things, offering them more opportunities to discover new content.

Spotify’s new design reflects the company’s desire to be the leading audio platform, and the new personalized AI is another example of this ambition. The Smart Shuffle feature, which temporarily adds tracks to existing playlists, is designed to improve the “just for you playlist” idea that Spotify has been working on for years. Additionally, DJ, an AI that spins records and hosts personalized radio shows, is another step in Spotify’s quest to become the preferred audio platform.

Spotify’s redesign shows the company’s determination to be more than just a music app. The update aims to make the app more navigable and provide more opportunities for users to discover new content, including video podcasts and other forms of audio. The design reflects the company’s broader ambitions and desire to be at the forefront of music streaming, providing users with more personalized AI features to enhance their experience.

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New Spotify Widget for Oppo Find N2 Flip’s Cover Screen Coming in April

Anubhav — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 04:49:14 +0000

Foldable smartphones are the latest trend in the world of technology. Smartphone manufacturers are using innovative methods to integrate pre-existing applications into their foldable devices since most of them have a secondary, smaller display with additional customization options. Oppo is also participating, with its highly anticipated Find N2 Flip on the way. The Find N2 Flip boasts a larger cover screen than other foldable devices, which is a significant improvement over its predecessors. However, the phone’s limited selection of widgets on the cover screen has been a concern for some users.

To address this issue, Oppo has confirmed that it will introduce a new Spotify widget to the Find N2 Flip’s cover screen in April. This widget will allow users to control the playback of their music without having to open the phone, further adding to the convenience of users. The layout of the widget is a mystery as of now, but we can hope that the Spotify widget will feature the album cover art, alongside the standard play/pause, skip forward, and previous track buttons. The widget may even have the repeat and shuffle toggles, but since Oppo hasn’t made any further comments regarding the same, users will just have to wait for the update.

Although the Find N2 Flip has yet to be formally launched, pre-orders are open in the UK and other countries. Oppo has announced that the widget rollout will begin on April 15, giving early buyers a one-month wait until they can access the new Spotify widget.

It’s exciting to see Oppo’s commitment to improving its foldable smartphone technology. With the addition of new widgets and features, the Find N2 Flip promises to be a game-changer in the world of smartphones, especially when it’s available for a fraction of the price of more expensive foldable smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.

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Spotify Ditching the Heart for a Plus Button with Enhanced Functionality

Anubhav — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 06:17:04 +0000

Spotify is one of the most widely used music streaming applications in the world. There is a vast selection of music and podcasts to stream on the app. To ensure that users can easily listen to their favorite tracks and episodes on more than one occasion, they can save them directly to their Library. Where users previously tapped the Heart icon to save their songs to their “Liked Songs” list and the “Add to playlist” icon to add tracks or podcast episodes to their preferred playlist, the functionality will now be accessed via a single button, the Plus button.

Spotify is introducing a more streamlined experience by consolidating the Heart icon and the “Add to playlist” icon into a single symbol for the sake of convenience, it seems. Users can tap the Plus (+) button, and you can save and choose the destination for any song, playlist, or podcast with ease. The company stated that its move is committed towards making it easier for its users to engage with their music and podcasts.

Here are some new ways to use Spotify’s integrated Plus (+) button:

Tap to save: To save a song or podcast episode, users tap the Plus (+) button to the right of the title in the Now Playing window. Once they have added their selection to Liked Songs (or Your Episodes), the Plus (+) button will transform into a green checkmark. Users can further change the destination of their saved content by tapping the green check again.
Add a whole album to Your Library: With one click of the Plus (+) button, users can add their favorite album, playlist, or audiobook to “Your Library”. Once it has been successfully added, a green checkmark will appear right next to it.

During their user research period, the company found that the new Plus (+) button upgrade saved time and allowed users to add to multiple playlists simultaneously, which is an added benefit. Moreover, saving songs and podcasts makes users more likely to listen to them again, which ultimately results in more streams for the artists and shows people have discovered. Additionally, everything you have already saved to your Liked Songs or Your Episodes will still be available.

This feature will be rolled out to all users globally on mobile (iOS and Android) starting today and will become available to all Spotify users in the coming weeks. Time will tell if users will respond positively to this change since Spotify recently modified their Now Playing UI a bit and not everyone was a huge fan of it.

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Spotify, Deezer and Other Companies Refer to Apple as Harmful, Monopolistic in Letter to EU Commission

Anubhav — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 06:43:37 +0000

It seems like Apple’s App Store regulations keep making app developers unhappy, time and again. Music streaming giant Spotify, alongside eight other companies, has composed a letter to the EU Commission’s executive vice president. In the letter, the companies call Apple a harmful, anticompetitive and monopolistic organization, with further requests to regulate Apple’s policies through ‘urgent action’.

The letter has been signed by the CEOs of Spotify, Deezer, Basecamp, Proton, EPC, Schibsted, France Digitale, and News Media Europe. The letter was addressed to Margrethe Vestager, the Executive VP of the EU Commission, and it strongly urges the commission to provide a verdict on the investigation that Spotify previously started. The companies claimed that the Apple App Store is creating hurdles for them to function effectively and grow, owing to Apple’s flawed app distribution practices. Furthermore, the letter states that the policies also affect European citizens negatively because of Apple’s high commissions for app developers and restricting them from accessing user data (which in turn can be used to improve user experience). They cited the newly cleared Digital Markets Act (DMA), urging the EU Commission to act fast for the welfare of European consumers.

This is not the first time that companies have raised their voice against Apple’s practices. In April 2022, Spotify filed a complaint, which caused the EU Commission to start a probe into the matter. They stated that Apple App Store regulations “purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience,” in addition to the exorbitant commission rates on their applications. Spotify has also previously stated that Apple’s regulations create an unfair playing field where Spotify struggles against Apple Music. Now, time will tell if the EU decides to make a statement on Apple’s policies or if it refrains from doing so.

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Spotify adds a new billing choice for Android users

Jeet — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 01:39:00 +0000

Earlier this year, Google announced a pilot project under which companies can bypass the Google Play billing system and can use their own or third-party payments system. The pilot project, named User Choice Billing, is currently limited to select applications and Spotify is among them.

Spotify and Google have now announced that User Choice Billing is available for the users of the music streaming platform in select markets and could expand to other regions later. The company will continue to include the option of Google Play billing.

Interestingly, Google will still get a cut of all the transactions that happen through the User Choice Billing payment system and not the company’s own Google Play billing. The company is reducing the payment commission by 4 percent, which means those developers using the third-party payments system will be paying either an 11 percent or 26 percent cut to Google.

Even though Google gets a commission for the third-party payments system, Spotify says that the system still represents progress toward greater “platform fairness and expanded payment options.” The streaming giant has termed the deal as fair, but it’s not yet known if Google is offering a special deal to Spotify.

The User Choice Billing pilot project from Google is running in 35 countries, and apart from Spotify, some other applications, including dating app Bumble have joined the program. It is available for applications only and games remain ineligible for the program altogether.

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Spotify acquires Dublin-based startup Kinzen to detect harmful content in podcasts

Jeet — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 06:20:48 +0000

Spotify, one of the leading music streaming platforms, has been trying to establish itself as a leading platform for podcasts as well, and for that, the company has spent hundreds of millions of dollars so far.

In the latest development, Spotify has announced that the company is acquiring Kinzen, a Dublin-based start-up that offers content moderation service, for an undisclosed amount. The entire team of Kinzen, including its leadership, will now join Spotify.

Spotify has been working in partnership with Kinzen since 2020, and now the start-up has been acquired by the music streaming platform. The technology will be used to better moderate podcasts and other audio using machine learning as well as human expertise.

Kinzen was founded in 2017 by Áine Kerr, Mark Little, and Paul Watson with a mission to focus on protecting public conversations from dangerous misinformation and harmful content. It offers tools that help platforms plan ahead by getting early warnings about evolving narratives and trends that could become misinformation risks.

The analysis includes a broad range of areas, like medical misinformation, antisemitism, hateful content, climate misinformation, violent extremism, and other dangerous misinformation across multiple markets and languages.

Spotify also adds that Kinzen is especially valuable because of its capability to analyze content in hundreds of languages and dialects, which will help the company detect emerging threats across markets.

It appears that the acquisition is a part of the company’s efforts to deal with harmful content on its service after it faced backlash earlier this year over “The Joe Rogan Experience,” where he was accused of spreading misinformation about COVID-19.

Spotify Premium users will soon get individual play & shuffle buttons

Sudhanshu — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 11:00:22 +0000

In the upcoming weeks, Spotify Premium subscribers will have more control thanks to an upgrade that separates the play and shuffle buttons. The play and shuffle buttons are currently unified for users of Spotify Premium and Spotify Free.

“This new change will allow you to choose the mode you prefer at the top of playlists and albums and listen the way you want to,” Spotify wrote on its blog. “Whether you love the joy of the unexpected with Shuffle mode, or prefer listening to tunes in order by simply pressing Play, Spotify has you covered.”

Spotify listeners may remember that the platform also provided only the “shuffle play” option for albums, which frustrated many of the artists. This changed when multiple Grammy Award winner Adele tweeted at Spotify last year saying “We don’t create albums with so much care and thought into our track listing for no reason.” The platform now displays the standard play button by default on album pages instead of the play/shuffle combo.

The separation of the play and shuffle buttons comes as a welcome change to the status quo, however, it does seem to be quite ridiculous that Sportify is opting to lock out such a basic function behind a paywall and not make it available to its free users.

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Apple faces new Antitrust charges in the EU over Spotify complaints

Sean — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 06:51:04 +0000

Apple has just been hit with another antitrust charge in the European Union. This news arrives following a complaint from Spotify, which caused the EU to start a probe into the matter.

According to a Reuters report, the latest charges are a part of an ongoing investigation by the European Commission. This investigation is related to an anti competitive charge accusations that were filed by the popular music streaming platform, Spotify. This will likely further strengthen EU’s case against the Cupertino based giant and other major tech firms in the region. For those unaware, the European Union has been attempting to rein in tech giants, which have grown exponentially across the globe in recent years.

Back in 2019, Spotify had filed a complaint with the European Commission accusing Apple of forcing App Store rules that “purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience.” The music streaming platform also brought up Apple’s 30 percent commission on App Store in its arguments, since this forced the brand to raise the charges of its subscription plans to make up for the commission that Apple charges.

Spotify further added that this gave the iPhone maker an “unfair unadvantage” as Spotify was unable to compete with Apple Music on a level playing field. A source close to the matter told Reuters said that the European Commission now plans on charging the company with another antitrust charge in a supplementary statement of objections. So, the new charges could be issued in the next few weeks.

Spotify tests Instagram Reels-like vertical scrolling ‘Audio Newsfeed’ for Podcasts

Sean — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 11:45:43 +0000

Spotify is apparently testing a new feature that might be quite useful for those that listen to Podcasts on the audio platform. This feature adds vertical scrolling similar to a newsfeed or Reels on Instagram.

HUGE!! @Spotify is adding a dedicated TikTok-style vertical scrolling feed for @spotifypodcasts to its toolbar!

h/t @SleepwellCap #NewSpotify pic.twitter.com/0CWolZGJQy

— Chris Messina 🪬 (@chrismessina) March 26, 2022

The news arrives from a video shared on Twitter (Via TechCrunch). This new audio newsfeed shows users 60 second short audio clips that scroll vertically. Reportedly, the feature will employ machine learning model that has been trained for over 100,000 hours of audio to make it capable of automatically suggesting selected audio clips to the individual users. According to the audio streaming company, this will be based on technology that it acquired when it purchased Podz last year for around 49 million US Dollars.

Podz was the startup that created the “audio newsfeed” to help address the issue of podcast’s discoverability. Thus, it used a Instagram Reels/TikTok like vertical scrolling format for this process. Notably, the real innovation behind this feature was the ability to select audio clips of shows in a way that didn’t require podcast creators to make their own clips. As of right now, the feature is being tested in limited regions where users are offered a dedicated “Podcasts” button within the application itself.

Clicking on this will take them to the vertical scrolling audio newsfeed. Interestingly, the audio clip is also transcribed on the display as it plays. If interested, users can click on the play button to continue to the show as well. In a statement to TechCrunch, the company said that “At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience. Some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We don’t have any further news to share at this time.”

Spotify to suspend service in Russia due to new media law

Sudhanshu — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 15:18:20 +0000

Earlier this month, Russia blocked Facebook and Twitter after the platforms placed restrictions on Russia’s state-backed media outlets. The Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram were later banned by Russia, stating that they were “carrying out extremist activities.” This ban was issued after Meta confirmed it was relaxing its policies on hate speech towards Russian soldiers and Vladimir Putin in relation to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Now, according to a Reuters report, Spotify will be shutting down its streaming service in Russia in response to the country’s new media law. Previously, the audio streaming platform closed its office in Russia indefinitely citing what it described as Moscow’s “unprovoked attack on Ukraine.”

On the current development, the streaming platform stated that “Spotify has continued to believe that it’s critically important to try to keep our service operational in Russia to provide trusted, independent news and information from the region,” Spotify said in a statement. “Unfortunately, recently enacted legislation further restricting access to information, eliminating free expression, and criminalizing certain types of news puts the safety of Spotify’s employees and the possibility of even our listeners at risk.”

According to a knowledgeable source on the matter, the audio streaming platform is expected to end its service in Russia in early April.

Another streaming service, Netflix, also pulled its services from Russia earlier this month after stating that it had no plans to add state-run channels to its Russian service. For those unaware, Russia’s communications regulator announced earlier in January that it will mandate foreign streaming services to also offer 20 local federal television channels to their userbase.

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Ikea Vappeby Bluetooth speaker lamp is the first of its kind to feature Spotify Tap support

Zohaib Ahmed — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 11:44:43 +0000

Ikea recently launched a new Bluetooth speaker lamp with a retro lantern-inspired design — and it is actually the very first speaker to feature Spotify Tap for one-touch access to the music service. The feature was earlier only available on headphones.

While the marketing images show the lamp perched in various parts within a house, it should work just fine in outdoor scenarios with features like a rechargeable battery and IP65 water resistance. You also get a USB Type-C cable with it for charging, although there’s no wall brick and you’d have to purchase it separately.

Once Spotify Tap is set up through the app, tapping the power button on the lamp will automatically resume playing the last piece of audio. A second tap will skip to a recommendation based on your listening habits.

Apart from the Spotify integration, the Ikea Vappeby Bluetooth lamp speaker doesn’t offer much in terms of smart features and is just a regular speaker cum light with not too many options to fiddle with.

Interested in a purchase? Just head over to Ikea’s official microsite for the same where it’s available in blue and grey colors for $64.99. As of this article’s writing, the item is out of stock but should hopefully restock soon enough.

Spotify acquires two podcast analytics firms Chartable and Podsights

Jeet — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 03:38:10 +0000

Spotify, one of the leading music streaming platforms has been actively trying to expand its business and is focusing more on podcasts. In line with that, the company has announced that it is acquiring two podcast-related companies — Chartable and Podsights.

The company has revealed financial details related to these acquisitions but it marks the first major acquisition this year in the audio-related business.

Podsights’ team of around 40 full-time employees will join Spotify and the company says that it has no plans to adjust that team at this time. On the other hand, Chartable will be added to Spotify’s Megaphone.

Both the companies — Chartable and Podsights operate in the space of podcast marketing and ad attribution. They allow podcasters and networks to include tags in the shows to track details like who listened to the tracks, if they heard the ad or if they took any action upon hearing the advertisement, etc.

Talking more about the acquisition of Podsight, Spotify says that it will use the technology outside podcasting and bring it to the “full scope of the Spotify platform, including audio ads within music, video ads, and display ads.”

As for the Chartable, Spotify plans to focus more on the podcasters instead of advertisers. It will be integrating its audience insights and its promotional tools, SmartLinks and SmartPromos with Megaphone so podcasters can grow their business.

The development comes at a time when Spotify is facing backlash because of Joe Rogan’s podcast which critics say is spreading misinformation related to COVID-19. It has also led to several artists leaving the platform in protest.

Spotify is the latest company to launch its own version of Clubhouse, and it’s called Greenroom

Habeeb Onawole — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 21:06:19 +0000

Clubhouse took the social media space by storm last year when it announced its social audio app. The service remained exclusive to iOS for more than a year before arriving for Android as a limited beta last month. While Clubhouse dragged its feet on an Android release, other platforms such as Twitter announced their own version (Spaces) for both operating systems. Today, Spotify joins the growing list with its own social audio platform called Greenroom.

Spotify’s Greenroom is actually green. Literally. And it launches for Android and iOS today in over 135 countries across the world. The press release points at it being a modified version of Locker Room which is made by Betty Labs, a company Spotify acquired in March.

Greenroom is said to be built with the creators and artists that make Spotify great in mind. Nevertheless, anyone will be able to create a room, join a room, join a group, and search for upcoming rooms.

Spotify says the app will provide a new onboarding experience that puts users’ interests front and center. It will also provide recording capabilities for users to complement their content with live conversations and also have chat controls. Users will be able to join Greenroom with their Spotify login details.

Later this Summer, Spotify will also launch a Spotify Creator Fund that allows audio creators to monetize their work.

Apple likely to face Anti Competitive charges by the EU later this week

Sean — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:26:22 +0000

Apple is expected to face anti competitive charges by the European Commission later this week. The news arrives over concerns that its the company’s App Store would break EU competition law.

According to a FinancialTimes report (Via MacRumors), the charges are regarding a two year old antitrust dispute with Spotify, the popular music streaming platform. For those unaware, Spotify filed a complaint back in 2019 with the European Commission alleged that the Cupertino based giant enforced App Store rules that “purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience,” accusing the company of “acting as both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers.”

Spotify had even accused the iPhone maker takes a 30 percent commission on every App Store purchase. This includes in app subscriptions, which forced the music streaming service to charge existing subscribers 12.99 US Dollars per month for its Premium plan on the store just to collect 9.99 US Dollars per month for its usual charges. The app is also arguing that the tech giant is abusing its unfair advantage since it is unable to compete with its own music streaming platform, Apple Music.

Notably, the antitrust case from Spotify is just one of several charges opened by the European Commission into Apple’s business practices since June 2020. Just last month, EU regulators were in the process of finalizing a charge sheet against the company in relation to Spotify’s antitrust complaint. Meanwhile, Apple has denied allegations of anti competitive behavior and stated that its rival Spotify was using “its financial motivations in misleading rhetoric.”

Spotify Car Thing in-car entertainment system officially unveiled

Jed John Ikoba — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 05:30:21 +0000

Music streaming giant Spotify is known for its software-powered streaming business but the company has long been planning to delve into releasing related hardware. The first hardware that the US company will release is an in-car entertainment system dubbed Car Thing.

The Spotify Car Thing had earlier this month appeared in certain codes in Apple’s iOS and was even first tested as far back as 2019 but wasn’t released. The company has now taken the wraps off the device, at least for the US market and it is targeted at Spotify Premium subscribers. The device will be available free of charge for its Premium subscribers including shipping.

The Car Thing sports a touchscreen display which should be an LCD panel. There is also a large knob that can easily be gripped and it is used for navigation. It equally features four buttons at the top preset to activate favorite music, Podcasts, playlists functions. Users may decide to change the buttons as desired. The smart device also comes with voice control capabilities.

The Car Thing is designed for cars that don’t have modern in-car infotainment systems like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto installed. The device has a dimension of 4.6 x 2.5 x 0.7 inches and weighs 3.4oz (96g). The device can be set up to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or through an AUX or USB cable but it has to be connected to the car stereo system.

Spotify Car Thing carries a retail price of $80 but the company is yet to set a timeline when it will be on sale. Sadly, it will only be available to U.S. Spotify Premium subscribers and will be based on an invite-only basis through carthing.spotify.com. We expect the available units to be limited.

Spotify Car Thing voice controlled device spotted in Apple iOS code

Sean — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 10:11:53 +0000

The Spotify Car Thing device has surfaced online again. This time the voice controlled gadget has appeared in certain codes in Apple’s iOS. New images of the iOS codes that featured Car Thing had been shared online on Twitter by Steve Moser.

I imagine the knob on Spotify’s Car Thing is for volume and it looks like your phone connects to both Car Thing and your car’s audio via BT. I wonder if Car Thing could show directions as well. pic.twitter.com/1pDq1HMFwI

— Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) April 2, 2021

For those unaware, the popular music streaming platform had first announced the Car Thing back in 2019. The device is a “voice-controlled music and podcast device” as the company described it and even added specifically that it would “focus remains on becoming the world’s number one audio platform—not on creating hardware,” as per a Gizmodo report. Now, the images shared by Steve Moser on Twitter, which showcase the iOS code for Car Thing.These images depict a horizontally oriented smartphone like display with a known on the right side, along with buttons.

Notably, this looks quite similar to a FCC filing that had been spotted previously, although, the company has tinkered with the design of the upcoming product by looking at the initial mockups in comparison to the recent FCC filings. In a confidentiality filing, the company also stated that “spent substantial effort in developing this product and it is one of the first of its kind in the industry. Having the subject information easily available to ‘competition’ would negate the advantage they have achieved by developing this product. Not protecting the details of the design will result in financial hardship.”

Back in 2019, the product was even tested by a “small group” of premium Spotify users that were invited to participate. The company stated that the device was developed to “to help us learn more about how people listen to music and podcasts.” Unfortunately, it is still too early to know for sure, so stay tuned for more as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

Apple reduces commission rates for small and new App developers on the App Store

Balaji S — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:27:06 +0000

Apple is facing a lot of heat lately w.r.t to its App Store policies. It already has an Epic Games’ lawsuit pending for next year. Amidst this, the company has taken a sudden step back and made a big announcement that will appease the App developers.

Apple today announced that it’s starting(via XDAdevelopers) a new “App Store Small Business Program”. According to the program, developers who qualify have to pay only a 15% commission. Precisely, if a developer earns less than $1 million in a given year, he is eligible for the program.

This is a big change from Apple who along with Google has recently been criticized for robust commission policies(earlier it was 30% flat). Moving on, Apple says the new program will begin on January 1, 2021. Talking about the program, Apple says it will release a comprehensive details of the policy only in December. However, you can take a look at the gist of it below:

It includes Existing developers who made up to $1 million in 2020 and new developers to the App Store. They can qualify for the program and the reduced commission.
If a developer surpasses the $1 million threshold, the standard commission rate will apply for the remainder of the year.
If a developer’s business falls below the $1 million threshold in a future calendar year, they can requalify for the 15 percent commission the year after.

Anyway, with this new program, the company has reportedly covered around 98% of the companies although they account for only 5% of App Store’s revenue in 2019. According to Apple, App Store revenue in 2019 generated $519 billion revenue with 85% of that benefiting third-party developers. That said, Apple will continue to charge the old 30% commission for those who sell digital goods and services more than $1 million in proceeds.

This is probably because it’s pissed off with the issue over Fortnite, Spotify, and 12 other companies. Back in August, Apple removed Epic Games’ Fortnite game from its App Store. This is because the latter reportedly violated App Store policies and opened direct micro-transactions with a 20% discount. Although Fortnite filed a lawsuit, Apple hit back with a counteraction saying it won’t exempt the game.

Later, it even filed a countersuit demanding seeking punitive damages and a full stop to unfair business practices. This turned hot as both Epic Games, and Spotify now joined together to form a CAF for advocating the Cupertino giant reforms. Let’s hope the new change at least benefits the newcomers in the future.

The post Apple reduces commission rates for small and new App developers on the App Store appeared first on Gizmochina.

spotify Archives - Gizmochina

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Spotify Car Thing in-car entertainment system officially unveiled

Spotify Car Thing voice controlled device spotted in Apple iOS code

Apple reduces commission rates for small and new App developers on the App Store

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