Spotify is implementing new social features within its application, designed to enhance user interaction and facilitate music sharing directly on the platform. These additions include a Messages feature that displays real-time listening activity from friends and a function to send requests for collaborative Jam sessions.
Real-Time Listening Activity
Users can enable the 'listening activity' feature through the 'Privacy & Social' section within their app settings. Once activated, a user's current listening activity will be visible at the top of their Messages chats. Tapping on a friend's listening activity provides options to play the track, save it, access its menu, or respond with an emoji. This feature is available to all users with access to Messages.
Collaborative Jam Sessions
Premium subscribers can initiate a Jam session request by selecting the 'Jam' option located in the top-right corner of the interface. Upon acceptance by another user, that user becomes the Jam host. Both participants are then able to add tracks to a shared queue and listen to music concurrently. Free users are able to join a Request to Jam session when invited by a Premium user.
Availability and Restrictions
The Listening Activity and Request to Jam features are scheduled for rollout to iOS and Android applications in regions where the Messages feature is operational. Broad availability in these markets is anticipated by early February. Both new features are integrated with the Messages platform and consequently are restricted to users aged 16 and older.
Spotify Messages Platform
Spotify previously launched its Messages feature to expand the app's social capabilities. While users have traditionally shared Spotify content outside the platform, these in-app messaging capabilities aim to centralize interactions, potentially contributing to increased user retention. Messages are currently limited to individual user communication and can only be sent to contacts with whom content has been previously shared, such as playlist collaborators or participants in Jams or Blends. Messages are protected by encryption at rest and in transit, but do not utilize end-to-end encryption.