In a recent Stream On 2023 event, Spotify introduced a new design for its application that displays a range of content, including podcasts, video content, music clips, and audiobooks on its platform. The vertically scrollable pages of the new design resemble other apps like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, suggesting that the platform is moving beyond just being a music player.
Spotify has previously introduced features like podcasts and audiobooks to attract a variety of content creators. Over the years, the platform has also integrated music, podcasts, and more to attract a broader audience. In a statement to The Verge on March 11, 2023, Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek expressed his hope to have more than 50 million audio content creators on the platform.
The redesigned application offers users a wide range of content choices. Users can still find a collection of music album covers and playlists at the top of the homescreen, but at the bottom, they can view video podcasts that play automatically as previews. This new look also displays large images like the ones on Instagram, providing users with more playlist recommendations.
By clicking on the “Music” or “Podcasts & Shows” option, users are taken to a vertically scrollable page similar to TikTok, where they can explore the previewed content further. Spotify claims that this content will be personalized based on users’ habits and interests when accessing or listening to music. This feature allows Spotify to create deeper relationships between artists and fans.
At Stream On 2023, Head of Global Podcast Studios, Julie McNamara, launched a video podcast aimed at attracting younger listeners. McNamara explained that video podcasts are one of the fastest-growing podcast contents and expects this trend to continue. Currently, there are 70,000 video creators on the platform, and many more are expected to join soon.
To further expand its content offerings, Spotify is also working to get more video podcasts on its platform. Anyone who registers on Spotify as a podcaster can now immediately publish video podcasts, a feature previously exclusive to Anchor users.
While this change provides users with more content choices, some may find Spotify’s new design overwhelming, especially those who prefer to listen to music only. However, the new design helps users discover new content that matches their preferences.
Spotify, the largest music streaming platform, aims to expand its quality with various forms of content, signaling that the platform is moving beyond being a mere music player. With the new design, Spotify hopes to provide its users with more choices of personalized content and create deeper connections between artists and fans.
