Spotify has shown off its new app interface, one that adds a video feed similar to those of a social networking app like TikTok.
The fresh interface is rolling out from now “in waves”, according to a Spotify rep, and will change how your Spotify homepage feels quite considerably.
From Spotify’s 90-minute Stream On presentation, the initial home screen remains the same. However, beyond that, including the Music, Podcasts & Shows and Audiobooks tabs, everything changes.
Instead of little static “cards” for albums, podcasts, and playlists, you’ll see mini videos likely to come across similar to Instagram Reels or TikTok posts, or full-screen banner images for less video-friendly content.
These can then act as previews, a taster of what each entry offers — not possible in the older text- and picture-based approach. Spotify has not decided to use audio autoplay here, you can breathe easy. You tap these entries to hear snippets of songs in an album, for example.
Spotify Smart Shuffle
Spotify has also introduced Smart Shuffle, which is used for playlists. Spotify algorithms weave in songs that could potentially be part of the playlist, but are not currently.
This is not dissimilar to the experience of using the free version of Spotify, where you can select an album or artist, but eventually will start hearing other songs. However, with Smart Shuffle and a Premium sub, those tracks won’t be peppered with ads.
Suggested songs slide in after each three actual playlist tracks. They can then be saved to the list should you like them, or be avoided in the future with the Spotify app’s “minus” button.
Smart Shuffle is very similar to the Enhance feature introduced in 2021, but plays new songs once after every three tracks instead of every two. Spotify also may be hoping the more intuitively understandable “smart shuffle” name will see it used more.
Spotify’s future ad experience
Spotify’s new approach may have an even bigger impact on “free” users than paid-up Premium ones. While this was not mentioned at Spotify’s Stream On event, a rolling feed of video posts gives Spotify the opportunity to inject more ads into its app.
Free users currently have to listen to ads at least every 30 minutes, and video ads are already used in the playback control screen every now and then. Free users may have to put up with Dominos adverts when searching for albums in future, then.
Spotify announced its plans to cut six per cent of its workforce on January 23, seeing the loss of around 600 jobs. The service had an estimated 205 million paid users in late 2022.
