Skip to main content

Roku adds support for Spotify and VEVO, updates mobile app

roku spotify
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Detailed recently on the official Roku blog, the set-top box manufacturer announced the launch of two new music applications on the Roku Channel Store. Spotify allows Roku users to access their personal Spotify account to listen to custom playlists and the VEVO application provides access to approximately 50,000 music videos created by over 11,000 artists. Beyond music videos, VEVO also offers video of live concerts and provides staff recommendations to help users find interesting video related to favorite artists. 

roku mobile appThe Spotify application includes the ability to search for music by album, artist or by song title. In order to encourage discovery, users can check out the top rated tracks by region. In addition, users can rate tracks within the application to help other Spotify users find interesting music.

Regarding Spotify playlists, users can load previously created playlists as well as add songs to a specific playlist within the Roku application. When music is playing, the application will display the song title, artist name, cover art for the album and the remaining time in the current song.

The Spotify application is currently available for all Roku 2 players and the Roku Streaming Stick. Support for the Roku HD and LT is in the works. The VEVO application is available for Roku 2 players, the Roku HD, the Roku LT and the Roku Streaming Stick.

The 2.1 update to the Roku mobile application brings new features to the Play on Roku function that allows users to stream music and photos from an Android or iOS device to a Roku set-top box. The added features include a shuffle and repeat option for music as well as the ability to create playlists. The last round of improvements to the Roku mobile application included the ability to assign names to multiple Roku boxes within a household and the ability to launch applications with voice commands on Android mobile devices.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
Sharp’s promised Roku OLED TV is now available and deeply discounted
Sharp Roku TV OLED 4K UHD.

In January 2023, Sharp surprised many observers by announcing its return to the North American TV market -- and then surprised us again by saying it intended to launch the first OLED TV powered by Roku. True to its word, you can now buy the Sharp Roku TV OLED 4K Ultra HD in 55- and 65-inch screen sizes, each of which has already been discounted for Black Friday sales.

Normally $1,900 for the 55-inch model and $2,500 for the 65-inch screen size (very similar prices to what LG asks for its 55- and 65-inch LG C3 OLED), the new Sharp OLED TVs are now $1,500 and $2,000, respectively.

Read more
Spotify Premium adds 200,000 free audiobooks for U.S. subscribers
Audiobooks on Spotify.

Spotify today took a big step toward keeping you in its app — and its growing ecosystem — that much more with the addition of more than 200,000 audiobooks for Premium subscribers in the U.S.

That's a big number, but it's also just part of the story. You don't get full access to listen to everything for as long as you want. Each individual Premium subscriber, and plan managers for Family and Duo accounts, will get 15 hours of audiobooks every month, included with their plans, and you'll see available audiobooks marked as "Included in Premium." (Sort of in the same vein of how some movies and shows are available free on Amazon Prime Video, and some aren't.) Spotify says that should get you about two books a month. But you can opt to buy a book or another 10 hours of listening time for $13.

Read more
Apple TV’s tvOS 17.2 beta adds a sidebar to the TV app
The new sidebar visible in the TV app on Apple TV in the tvOS 17.2 developer beta.

The new sidebar is visible in the TV app on Apple TV in the tvOS 17.2 developer beta. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

One of the messier pieces of the Apple TV experience on Apple TV 4K hardware has long been Apple's TV app. It's where Apple has attempted to aggregate all the things you can watch on your Apple TV, from Apple TV+ to any number of installed applications. (Another seriously messy piece is the myriad things Apple has named "Apple TV." But that's another problem for another time.)

Read more