Spotify tests new feature that lets friends control music together
The year is 2011 and you’ve just come home from school to the need of some new music discovery. Before the tailored algorithms of Spotify, many of us sought out new music suggestions in Turntable.fm, a social media website that allowed users to interactively share music.
Now, Spotify may be putting their own twist on the now-closed site with a feature they’re testing called “Social Listening.”
Kick up the nostalgia and bring on the song suggestions!
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In Turntable.fm, you were allowed to create “rooms” that others could join. Designated users would then play DJ, playing songs for everyone in that room while users chatted with one another through a text interface.
Users could vote on songs while also offering up suggestions to the DJ on what to play next.
Now, it looks like Spotify may be testing their own Turntable.fm feature of sorts with “Social Listening,” which would allow friends to control music together.
Think of it as a collaborative playlist – but in “real time.”
According to Mashable, software engineer Jane Manchun Wong recently uncovered the feature, taking to Twitter to share it with her followers.
Here’s how it allegedly works:
The “Connected Devices” button on your Spotify will have the option to “Connect With Friends.” Choosing that feature will bring up a QR code and a link. You can then share that code or link with friends which will then make the “Now Listening” section of your Spotify active. The feature will show everyone that is listening and give anyone who is connected the ability to control music – whether you’re all in the same room or thousands of miles apart.
Spotify is working on Social Listening, letting friends to control music together with their own devices
Scan Spotify Code or open link for it to begin
For example, I’m listening Spotify right now. Feel free to introduce me new music: https://t.co/f59D0sis7Y pic.twitter.com/nPOlcPwQdG
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) May 31, 2019
When connected to Spotify’s Social Listening, you will show up on the “Already connected” list
The “Now Playing” UI will show the amount of friends listening
(friend’s identity here replaced with mine for privacy) pic.twitter.com/Fo5rdH3xGO
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) May 31, 2019
Spotify’s Social Listening will also be available for web
This is how the invitation prompt looks like in the Web Player pic.twitter.com/bCEcD3GkOd
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) June 1, 2019
However, it is not know how true the “real time” actually is. Meaning, it’s uncertain if Spotify will play the song for everyone at the exact same time, or if everyone will be listening to the same song but at different time codes.
It’s also unclear if adding a song will put it in a queue or switch the current song over immediately.
A Spotify representative told Mashable, “We’re always testing new products and experiences, but have no further news to share at this time.”
We’re eager to see how and when this new feature will roll out, and if it will make the battle over the aux cord just a tiny bit easier.
What do you think of Spotify’s potential “Social Listening” feature? Sound off in the comments below!
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