Spotify tests a video feed that looks like TikTok

How to find new songs to listen to on Spotify? No playlists or searches: the new feature is ready to provide a completely new tool

Spotify is a hotbed of innovation: it is proving it through the tests and integrations that are now arriving at a rapid pace. The latest in chronological order concerns an aspect that, in the past, had collected discordant opinions but that, in the new form, could finally find its right dimension.

The first to discover the video feed functionality with a structure very similar to TikTok was Chris Messina, a well-known face of the tech sector, following an analysis of the beta version of the official application for devices with iOS operating system. The app, in this mode, is already available on TestFlight, an online service that can be accessed by developers enrolled in Apple’s iOS Developer program. With some screenshots, taken directly at the interface, Messina then spread the news through its Twitter profile, providing some explanations on what could be the final appearance of the feature, once introduced permanently within the program.

Spotify, how the video feed works

With Spotify’s video feed, the user has the opportunity to swipe (up or down) between a series of short music videos. The style, it seems obvious, is very reminiscent of the Chinese social network, an immediate and attractive format that is particularly appreciated; in fact, in the past has been adopted by many other realities, including two strong pieces of the web such as YouTube and Reddit.

The videos, with vertical orientation, are contained in a special section accessible via a button in the bottom bar, between “Home” and “Search”, bringing to four icons available. Within it, you can scroll through short music videos and show your appreciation by tapping on the integrated heart-shaped button, completely identical to the one used to add songs to your favorites.

Spotify, where have we seen videos before?

The introduction of videos, we already anticipated, is not a complete novelty for the music streaming service. In 2019, the app added “Canvas,” which are short, looping clips associated with songs that can be displayed in place of the album cover being played.

As some will recall, the feature first came under criticism from a large segment of the app’s users. Many people spoke out against it, because of its ability to distract from the music, unlike the static image of the original album artwork.

Spotify, when will the videos arrive?

For the moment, the company has preferred to keep the new feature dedicated to music videos under wraps, focusing instead on other innovations such as the one suggested by one of the platform’s most popular artists, namely