At today's Stream On event in Los Angeles, Spotify unveiled a big makeover of its app that builds on its personalization technology investments and adopts a short-form video stream akin to that made popular by TikTok.
Users and subscribers will be able to access a few new features in the upgraded Spotify mobile app, such as the vertically scrolling "discovery" feeds, a new "Smart Shuffle" mode for playlist recommendations, a new podcast autoplay feature, and more.
Spotify Is Following The Design Trend That Is Taking Over Mobile Apps
Many of the popular apps that people use every day have already adopted the vertical TikTok-style video stream, and now one more is going to follow suit.
Spotify will start rolling out a new look for the Home area of its mobile app with a "more visual, dynamic" feel after launching a beta test last year.
According to the company, the visual feeds are designed to foster greater fan engagement and artist discovery, Engadget notes.
Additionally, it adds a new area to the app where the business may subsequently place ads, similar to what Instagram did when it added Reels.
Another benefit of a redesign is that it might be a method to respond to some consumer complaints that the app is too busy and challenging to use, which hinders discovery.
The new upgrade will allow users to "scroll purposefully" through the new feeds where Spotify will provide audio and video segments for consumers to preview in the Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks categories.
The updated layout expands on the improvements that were released in August 2022 and divided music and podcasts into separate feeds.
The main page, or Home tab, of the updated app will have been updated with the new functionality, making it obvious when the app is initially used.
However, consumers will not be thrust into the new TikTok-like experience without any forewarning, Tech Crunch writes.
Read More: Spotify is Removing the Heart Icon, Replacing It with Multi-Functional Plus Icon
Spotify Has Provided More Details About The New Enhancements
Users have the opportunity to read episode transcriptions, watch video podcasts, save, share, and preview several tracks (from playlists or albums) if they find anything they wish to hear in its entirety, thanks to the upgrade.
Furthermore, according to Spotify, the visual content will be included in its curated playlists, such as Rap Caviar, Release Radar, New Music Friday, and Discover Weekly.
Users in the US and Canada will notice Spotify's AI DJ below the group of eight customized shortcuts on the Music tab.
By pressing on the cards, users can then listen to up to five songs from an album or playlist in a similar way to how Instagram Stories works.
The eight shortcuts at the top of the Podcasts section will still be visible to users, but the rest of the feed will only display previews of certain shows.
Each suggestion will include an audio sample, a real-time transcription, or, if the show was shot in video, a video clip.
Additionally, Spotify is changing the name of its Enhance tool, which debuted in 2021, to Smart Shuffle, Engadget says.
This tool not only offers playlist ideas that precisely complement the atmosphere, but it also shuffles the playlists' order.
Some of these new features, according to Spotify, will go live today, while others will not be available until later.
Related Article: Spotify Uses OpenAI for Its New 'DJ' Feature That Will Explain Your Recommendations
