Spotify Launches Music Videos in the US and Canada
▼ Summary
– Spotify is launching its beta music videos feature to Premium subscribers in the US and Canada.
– Premium users can toggle between video and audio for supported tracks using a “Switch to video” button in the app.
– The feature is currently limited to songs by a specific list of artists, including Ariana Grande and Tyler Childers.
– When in video mode, a “Related Music Videos” section replaces the “Lyrics” section for browsing more content.
– This related content is described as being similar to YouTube or TikTok but only features artist-created videos.
Music videos are now available for Spotify Premium subscribers in the United States and Canada, marking the feature’s long-awaited beta launch in these key markets. This expansion follows a rollout to users in other regions over a year ago, bringing a more visual dimension to the streaming experience. Premium members can now seamlessly integrate music videos into their listening sessions across iOS, Android, desktop, and TV applications.
When playing a supported track, users will see a new “Switch to video” button. Tapping this option instantly transitions the playback from audio to the song’s official music video, picking up exactly where the audio left off. For those who prefer just the music, a simple tap on the “Switch to audio” button hides the video and returns to the standard audio player. This toggle functionality allows for flexible, on-the-fly changes to how content is enjoyed.
The library of available videos is currently curated and limited to a select group of artists. Initial participants include major names like Ariana Grande and Olivia Dean, alongside popular acts such as Babymonster, Addison Rae, Tyler Childers, Natanael Cano, and Carín León. Spotify plans to expand this catalog over time as it refines the beta experience.
A dedicated “Related Music Videos” section enhances discovery while in video mode. This feature replaces the typical “Lyrics” panel, offering a vertical feed of additional artist-created video content to browse. It functions similarly to discovery feeds on platforms like YouTube or TikTok, but is exclusively populated with official music videos, providing a focused environment for exploring visual content from favorite musicians.
This move represents Spotify’s continued effort to diversify its platform beyond audio streaming, directly competing with video-centric services by integrating multimedia content directly into the user’s existing music library and playlists. The beta phase will allow the company to gather user feedback and performance data before a potential wider release.
(Source: The Verge)
