Spotify tries asking users to record audio reactions to music playlists - The Verge

A new test from Spotify is seeing the music streaming service experiment with having users post audio reactions to music playlists. The company confirmed the test, which one user reported seeing in Vietnam.

News articles have comments, YouTube has reaction videos, and now a new test from Spotify sees the streaming service experiment with audio reactions for music playlists. The experiment came to light thanks to a Reddit user based in Vietnam who posted screenshots of the reaction prompt.

“So what do you think?” the interface reads. “Record an episode to share your thoughts on the playlist.” Below the prompt there’s a green-colored record button to start the audio recording, which it appears will then be uploaded as a podcast episode to the service. There are also some simple editing options like being able to add background music and tags. The reaction feature seems to be accessible via a microphone icon on the playlist’s page.

The company confirmed the test in a statement given to TechCrunch. “At Spotify, we are always looking for ways to enhance our users’ experience on our platform, and we regularly test features that we believe will bring value to listeners and creators,” the statement reads. “We are currently running a limited test of in-app audio creation, but have no further details to share at this time.” It’s unclear how widely this new test has been deployed and the company did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

The feature is accessible from a microphone icon on the playlist’s page.

    Image: u/Mortical219 / Reddit
  









  
    










  





  
    A prompt to record their thoughts.
  
  
    Image: u/Mortical219 / Reddit
  

User engagement is a fundamental part of the online experience for many services, which encourage users to become a part of the conversation after reading an article or watching a video. And in recent years, reaction features like TikTok’s Duets have become core to the service offering. Spotify’s test seems to be an attempt to bring similar social elements to music playlists, and hopefully benefit from the resulting increase in user participation.

The discovery of the test comes a little over a month after Spotify was spotted experimenting with allowing users to record and post podcasts directly from the app, substantially lowering the barrier to entry to potential audio creators. At the time, Spotify had made the feature available to a small number of users in the US and New Zealand.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/16/23307804/spotify-podcast-reactions-playlists-vietnam-test

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