Spotify is testing a TikTok-style video feed that shows video clips of songs that are being played in a full-screen format. According to reports, the feature was first spotted by Chris Messina who shared a video of the Spotify feed with the new format. Messina described the feature as a pared-down version of a TikTok-style music feed. Spotify is testing the beta feature in its iOS app.
When the music streaming platform rolls out the feature, the video feed will be accessible from a new tab called Discover The Discover tab and will be added to the navigation bar on the app.
Spotify users can add or change individual tracks as they scroll through the video feed, and there is a three dot meny icon to pull up options for each song.
Spotify gave a statement to TechCrunch that it was working on this new feature, but did not reveal when it would see a wider roll out.
A spokesman for Spotify said that the company conducts a number of tests in order to improve user experience. Some of the tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience, and others serve as an important learning experience. We don't have any news to share at this time, the app said in its statement.
The Verge points out that Spotify is not the only app testing a TikTok-style feed. Netflix is testing a similar format on its iOS app. Netflix's short videos are designed to help users find new content that they might want to watch. Netflix is testing two feeds for the new video format - Kids Clips and Fast Laughs.
Kids Clips shows kids shows on Netflix and is quite similar to the short comedy clips Netflix has been experimenting with with the Fast Laughs feed earlier this year.
TikTok's short video format is extremely popular and the platform is thriving in countries where it hasn't been banned. According to reports, TikTik's engagement hours have been on the rise and the platform even beat YouTube's average watch times in the US.
TikTok's runaway success has had even non-social media platforms on board to try and use the short video format to help users engage with them.
Spotify's Discover feed, as and when it rolls out, will be a tweak to its existing Canvas feature. The Canvas feature has artists play their own videos alongside their music on the platform. The videos Spotify is showing on the Discover feed appear to be the same as the ones used for Canvas TechCrunch pointed out.
Spotify has experimented with a Snapchat-like stories feature alongside its playlists in the past and now it is TikTok s turn to be tried out.