Spotify now lets you mix tunes and talk with podcast playlists
Playlists have always been a big part of Spotify, and now they're set to become even bigger with the ability to create podcast-based playlists. It's a mobile-only feature for now, but users can create huge lists of podcast episodes for listening on-the-go, or they can add podcasts to existing playlists.
Spotify’s new personalized playlists deliver your favorite tunes with one tap
In the streaming music wars, Spotify is still the king, and its music discovery playlists are a big reason why. Its latest playlists go in the other direction, mining users' play history on the service to dig up the most-listened-to tracks from both the last 30 days as well as the less recent past.
Spotify family plan members required to prove they live at the same address
Spotify now requires members of a family plan to prove that they live in the same address to limit the practice of friends availing themselves of the cheaper subscription price. The music streaming service said that it will request location data from time to time, raising privacy concerns.
Spotify’s improved family plan features now available to new subscribers
Spotify has added a feature that has long been on parents' wish lists: The ability to filter explicit content on the sub-accounts of Spotify family plans. For some, the lack of such a feature has been a reason to join services like Apple Music, which makes the new controls an important addition.
How to upload music to Spotify
Ever wondered if you can add your private music collection to your Spotify account, so you can listen to it on-the-go? It's possible, using a feature called Local Files. It works differently than uploading music to other streaming services, but we've got a step-by-step how-to for those who want to make it happen.
Apple Music takes a peek at what people are Shazaming for new weekly playlist
Taking on Spotify isn't easy, but Apple Music is making great strides, especially in the U.S. Now the streaming giant is hitting Spotify where its users live: A new weekly chart/playlist has been added to Apple Music and it's powered by the company's Shazam music identification app. Will it attract even more users?
Spotify may be considering higher prices for its music plans
Spotify is the world's most popular music streaming service. But would that still be the case if it raised its prices? That's something the company is reportedly thinking of testing on its home turf of Scandinavia, where it enjoys a healthy lead over its streaming music competitors.
AT&T subscribers can now get Spotify Premium for free — here’s how
So you want free Spotify Premium, huh? Well, you're in luck — if you're an AT&T customer, that is. That's because it's offering a free Premium subscription to all its customers on select plans, as well as a six-month trial to those who aren't. Here's everything you need to know to redeem this hot deal.
With U.S. launch of Stations app, Spotify aims to beat Apple to Pandora’s crown
Spotify might be the dominant music streaming service globally, but in the U.S., it still faces an uphill battle. To add another weapon to its American arsenal, it has launched its stand-alone Stations app. With a stripped-down interface and quick access to music, it's a way for Spotify to highlight one of its best features.
Digital Trends Live: Spotify launches stations in U.S., Amazon’s train kiosks
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, we discuss the trending tech stories of the day, including Spotify’s plan to launch the Stations app in the U.S., Amazon sets up kiosks in U.K. train stations, IKEA’s custom gaming accessibility products, balloon satellites, and an Xbox body wash.
Spotify’s latest experiment is designed to boost podcast discovery
Podcasting has become a rich medium, with hundreds of shows to choose from in dozens of languages. This means that finding new shows to listen to can be a challenge. Spotify is looking into how it can fix that, and a new set of human-curated podcast playlists might be the answer.
Spotify’s secret Social Listening feature could create global listening parties
In what appears to be a secret feature available only to internal employees, Spotify is experimenting with Social Listening, letting friends invite one another to collaborate on music queues in real time both in person or from anywhere in the world. Could this lead to synchronized music parties on a global scale?
Why you can’t buy Car Thing, Spotify’s first hardware device
After several months of rumors, it's true: Spotify has created a voice-activated, in-car device that lets you listen to music and podcasts. Unfortunately, the Car Thing, as it is known, is not for sale. Instead, the company plans to give it to a limited set of users and use the resulting data to improve its services.
Spotify hits repeat on its Premium special offer: $1 a month for 3 months
Back by popular demand it seems, or perhaps to bolster demand, Spotify is relaunching its $1 for three months of its Premium tier of service for anyone who has not previously signed up for a subscription. The offer begins on May 15 and ends on June 30.
Spotify is quietly turning itself into a storytelling platform for artists
To provide more ways for artists and creators to engage with audiences, Spotify is testing out its own version of the popular Stories format, with a new feature called Storyline. It has also launched a new online tool that vastly simplifies the creation of podcasts. Here's what you need to know.
Looking for podcasts? Google lets you find and play them in its web search
Not content to simply have its own dedicated podcasts app, Google is now letting people find podcasts from within its web search, and play the most recent episodes inside a dedicated web-player. The move comes after the BBC recently decided to pull all of its podcasts from Google's platforms.
Digital Trends Live: Spotify vs. Apple, kamikaze drones, and more
On today’s Digital Trends Live, we discuss Spotify’s accusation that Apple monopolizes streaming music, Uber and Lyft drivers' strike, bounty hunters buying wireless location data, Volkswagen’s EV record attempt, QR codes during TV shows, kamikaze drones, a robotic farm sells produce, and more.
Spotify tests voice-enabled ads for those who prefer talking to tapping
What do you do when you hear an ad on the radio, or perhaps Spotify? Odds are, not much at all. But that may soon change: Spotify is now testing audio ads that you can respond to with your voice. The first ads only take you to other Spotify content, but it's clear: We'll soon be able to holler back at our ads.
Digital Trends Live: Spotify hits 100 million subscriptions, simulated asteroid
On the latest episode of DT Live, we talk about the latest tech news, including Spotify's subscription record, NASA's deadly asteroid prep, Amazon's tracking (and firing) of workers based on A.I. results, a flying car skyport, Samsung's wraparound screen patent, and more!
Spotify is first music service to hit 100 million paying subscribers
Though it's still in second place in the U.S., globally Spotify is on a tear. The company revealed in its Q1 2019 report that it had hit 100 million paying subscribers worldwide, making it the first streaming music company to achieve the milestone. It has also stayed profitable, though challenges remain.
Amazon will reportedly launch a hi-fi version of Amazon Music Unlimited
A new report suggests that Amazon is in the final months of preparation for the launch of a new hi-res tier for its music subscription service. If true, it might launch later this year, for around $15 per month, making it the first of the big streaming giants to take this step.
Amazon’s free Spotify competitor is here. Just ask Alexa
Just ask Alexa to play your favorite song. Amazon has launched a free, ad-based music streaming service to compete with Spotify's free tier on its popular Echo devices, aiming to keep listeners into the Amazon ecosystem, and to bolster subscriptions to its paid Amazon Music Unlimited service.
Amazon rumored to be launching free music-streaming service
Rumors are swirling that Amazon is planning to take on Spotify by launching its own free music streaming service. Amazon plans to expand its dominance of e-commerce and its inroads into TV and movie streaming, available through its Amazon Prime Video service. The service is rumored to be ad-supported.
Spotify now personalizing its curated playlists to help improve music discovery
In an attempt to improve the selection of songs that listeners hear when tuning into Spotify's mood-based playlists, the streaming music company has started to use personalization to alter which tracks are part of the mix. The move could have a material effect on artists, who depend on their tracks being heard.
Spotify adds mystery and crime to its podcast arsenal with Parcast acquisition
Spotify continues to add to its growing collection of podcasting assets, this time with the acquisition of Parcast, an L.A.-based podcast studio known for its lurid, true-crime and mystery titles, that have garnered a significant audience since the company began in 2017.
If you’re a Spotify Premium subscriber, you now get Hulu for free
Spotify Premium subscribers have yet another reason to love the Swedish streaming service, with the company now offering ad-free Hulu accounts to all premium users at no additional cost, poising it to compete with the upcoming Apple video streaming service, which will likely offer Apple Music bundles.
Google Clock now also supports Pandora, YouTube Music as alarm options
Google Clock, through its version 6.1 update, finally added Pandora and YouTube Music as alarm options, following Spotify which has been supported since July. Users will now be able to choose tracks from these services to wake them up in the morning, instead of jarring sounds or annoying jingles.
Garmin’s Vivoactive 3 Music adds Spotify support for tunes while you tone
After releasing Spotify for the Fenix 5 Plus series and Forerunner 645 Music last year, Garmin made good on its promise to bring the music streaming service to its Vivoactive 3 Music fitness watch. Owners can download the app to their watch and connect to wireless earbuds for listening everywhere.
Apple Music encourages subscribers to give friends a free 1-month pass
It's no secret that Apple has its sights set squarely on Spotify's enviable subscriber count, but how will Apple Music grow its base? Apparently by using existing customers as a recruitment service. Subscribers are encouraged to send friends a one-month free pass to the streaming service.
Spotify could terminate accounts of listeners using ad blockers
Bad news for those who use an ad blocker to get rid of annoying ads on Spotify -- the company has updated its Terms of Service to explicitly ban ad blockers. There are potentially serious consequences in place for users found circumventing the rules, including suspending or terminating your account.
Using an ad blocker with Spotify? Prepare to be terminated
Ad blocking has been used by over two million of Spotify's customers, the company revealed last year. Now, it's going to try to eliminate these accounts permanently. Changes to its terms of service have made it officially unacceptable to use any technology that circumvents ads, under the threat of termination.
Spotify buys two podcast companies, and plans to spend even more
Spotify purchased Gimlet Media, the startup behind Reply All and the Homecoming podcast that Amazon turned into a show, for over $200 million. It has also picked up Anchor, making the streaming music company the second largest podcast platform behind Apple.
The best songs about money
There may not be as many songs about money as there are songs about love, but it's a close second. If you're looking for a cash-inspired playlist to jam to on the way to work (or for any other time, really), look no further than our picks for the best songs about money. Dollar, dollar bill, y'all.
Spotify subscribers may have been hacked to stream fake ‘mysterycore’ artists
In late 2018, a number of Spotify subscribers noticed that their accounts had played bands they'd never heard of, making their top streamed artists of the year into an odd list of mystery bands. Here's what may have happened, and how to prevent it from affecting your precious streaming account.