Skip to main content

Spotify apparently exploring addition of music videos to Now Playing screen

Spotify is reportedly thinking about adding music videos to its platform, according to code found in the current version of the streaming service’s app.

Recommended Videos

The potential feature was discovered by tech blogger Jane Wong, who is known for seeking out new and hidden features of apps and services, and posted on Twitter.

Spotify is finally working on a tab to switch between Canvas, Album Art, and Video (which is new!) pic.twitter.com/xOwvoSnBdV

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) June 20, 2020

The new Video tab was found in Spotify’s Now Playing screen, alongside Album Art and Canvas tabs. Album Art is a static image, while Canvas is a looping animation that artists provide for certain tracks.

While Spotify is “still exploring” what to place in the Video tab, music videos are the obvious choice. It remains unclear where the feature will source the content, but it will likely be from YouTube, despite the video-focused YouTube Music being a competitor.

Spotify previously attempted to add videos to its platform under the name Spotify Shows, with content from the likes of The Daily Show and SportsCenter. That feature fell to the wayside, and the new Video tab may be the app’s chance at doing things right the second time around. However, since there is no official announcement yet, there is still a possibility that the planned feature will be scrapped.

Digital Trends has reached out to Spotify for comments on the spotted feature. We will update this article as soon as we hear back.

Spotify updates

Spotify recently removed the 10,000-item limit on its library feature, allowing people to add as many songs as they want. This has been one of the service’s most requested features, even though only 1% of users reached 10,000 saved songs in their library.

The Joe Rogan Experience podcast is also moving exclusively to Spotify by the end of the year, but will be available on the platform for free starting September 1.

Aaron Mamiit
Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated…
Spotify is testing the removal of a popular feature from its free tier
Spotify logo on a phone.

If you use Spotify’s free ad-supported tier and love using the app to check out the lyrics of the songs you listen to, an unpleasant surprise could be coming your way.

Why? Because the company is experimenting with making lyrics exclusive to its Premium subscribers.

Read more
WhatsApp now lets you add short video messages to chats
WhatsApp logo on a phone.

You can now send short video messages in a WhatsApp chat, Meta announced on Thursday.

A video message can last for up to 60 seconds long and is protected with end-to-end encryption.

Read more
Spotify gets first major redesign in 10 years with TikTok-like scroll
The new Spotify home screen.

Spotify held its second annual Stream On event for creators today, and while the streamer didn't announce the coming of its hi-res music tier, it took the opportunity to lift the veil off its biggest redesign in a decade. The revamp not only brings a new scrolling, image-heavy, interactive visual look reminiscent of TikTok and Instagram to the mobile app's Home page, but there are several new discovery-based features for music, podcasts, and audiobooks.

While the Stream On event had a major focus on new tools and resources for music artists, podcasters, and audiobook creators, the beginning of the presentation was big on the new look and features for users -- some that will be available to everyone and some to subscribers only. The biggest change comes to the Home screen, which takes the old layout of album artwork and static images and brings it to life with video clips, audio previews of songs, playlists, albums, podcast episodes, and more.

Read more