Spotify introduces Stories tool for influencers

This is according to US-based publication Tech Crunch. The new Stories feature will work in a similar way to other Stories tools on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube. But Spotify has a unique take on the format that involves the use of music.

Influencers can also share video clips that contain small song snippets and album art as a way of previewing the songs in their playlist. The tool will not be available to artists at the moment, rather only select influencers will be able to use it.

“At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience. Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning experience. We have no further news to share on future plans at this time,” a Spotify spokesperson told Tech Crunch.

Although it is similar to other products, Spotify is not trying to turn the Stories tool into another social media app. Instead, the music streaming service will use influencers’ existing accounts on other platforms to lure followers.

The first influencer to test the feature is makeup and fashion vlogger Summer Mckeen, whose social media fan base includes 2.33 million YouTube subscribers as well as 2.1 million Instagram and 126 000 Spotify followers, respectively.

Mckeen is using the new feature to introduce a playlist of her all-time favourite songs, which she’s titled her ‘all time besties’.

Spotify last tested a Stories-like product called Storyline that was similar to Behind the Lyrics, but instead allowed artists to share their own insights, inspiration and other details more directly.

Stories can only be seen on iOS and Android devices, not desktop, and the feature is available to all Spotify users. It’s not clear what the criteria for eligibility is at this point but the service will be rolled out to notable names across the entertainment, lifestyle and music industries soon.