Spotify Launches Video, New Approach to Music Service
NEW YORK – May 20, 2015 (UPI) — Spotify officially launched the tricks it had up its sleeve in the face of revving competition Wednesday.
The Sweden-based music service introduced video streaming, original shows, and an encompassing approach — Spotify Now — that promises a full day’s worth of relevant entertainment.
Joining the ranks of Google‘s video frontrunner, YouTube, and other social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, Spotify intends to compile video content fitting for each user’s tastes as they go throughout their day.
Spotify will add video clips and audio shows from outlets like ABC, BBC, ESPN, Comedy Central and NBC into its music compilations in order to add variety to users’ experiences and keep them up-to-date with current events through the app.
Users will be able to watch Jimmy Kimmel Live, “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” “Vice News” and “Robot Chicken,” among dozens of other shows. If there isn’t time to watch video, they can opt to listen to popular podcasts like “TED Talks,” “How Stuff Works,” “Freakanomics Radio” and “The Moth Podcast.”
New original content from the service includes: “A Full English,” a video show featuring conversations over meals between two unalike personalities; Incoming, a weekly audio show discussing new music headed by Joe Levy; and “Turntable,” which brings chefs and musicians together.
In all, Spotify is adding on four new video shows and two more audio shows to their more established content like “Spotify Sessions.”
Atop all the new content, Spotify also appeals to the fitness junkies with Spotify Running — a motivational tool that senses a runner’s tempo and plays music to match. The company also announced that it will partner with Nike’s plus application and RunKeeper.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Spotify hasn’t made much profit as just a music streaming service in the face of rivals like Pandora, iTunes and Tidal. In January, the company reported that it served 60 million subscribers who paid about $10 a month for its premium service.
