Spotify is experimenting with a vertical video stream similar to TikTok in its app

TikTok’s short-form video stream has been imitated by a slew of competitors, including Instagram, Snap, YouTube, and even Netflix. It appears that Spotify can now be added to that list. The company has revealed that a new feature in its app is currently being tested.

Vertical Video Feature

Users can scroll through a vertical feed of music videos on Discover and optionally like or skip them. It shows as a fourth tab in the navigation bar at the bottom of the Spotify app, between Home and Search, for those who have access to the function.

The new function was initially noticed on Twitter, where a user posted a video of the Discover feature in use. It’s a “trimmed-down version” of a TikTok-style music video feed, according to him. The music streaming platform has also released a new feature that allows users to remove contacts permanently from their followers.

When you tap a new icon in the navigation toolbar in Spotify’s TestFlight build (a beta version for iOS), you’ll be sent straight to the video feed. You may then move around the feed by swiping up and down, similar to how you would on TikTok. You can tap the three-dot menu to bring up the usual song information page in addition to tapping the heart to enjoy songs.

It is worth mentioning that the feature is based on Spotify’s existing Canvas format. Canvas, which was widely released in 2019, allows artists to make videos to complement their music on the Spotify app. Users had mixed reactions to the feature, with some claiming that when listening to music, they preferred to see only the static album art and found the movie and its continuous visuals irritating. Others, on the other hand, said they enjoyed it. Users are more likely to continue streaming, share tunes, or save tracks when they see a Canvas, according to Spotify.

We can certify that the videos playing in the vertical feed are the artists’ current Canvas videos after reviewing the videos. However, Spotify refused to confirm this to us.

Summing Up

After asking Spotify directly about the expected release date we can confirm that the test is still in its early stages and may not be released to the public. It wouldn’t be an unexpected move on Spotify’s part if it did. Previously, the corporation relied on popular social media formats to engage its users. Spotify previously experimented with a Stories feature that allowed influencers to introduce their own, curated playlists by posting Stories. However, that option was never made available to all Spotify subscribers.