Spotify copies TikTok with a redesigned home screen featuring a vertical scroll feed
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Now SPOTIFY takes on TikTok! Music app unveils a redesigned home screen with a vertical scroll feed – but users say the new design is ‘horrific’
- Spotify has rolled out a new video-focused interface for the app’s home screen
- Audio or visual previews of songs, audiobooks, and podcasts play automatically
- But users are not all impressed, with some labeling it as ‘horrific’ and ‘terrible’
Spotify users woke up to their go-to music app looking a little different this morning — and not all of them are happy about it.
The redesigned homepage features a vertical scrolling feed, similar to TikTok’s, showing video previews of featured songs, podcasts, and audiobooks.
These will automatically play aloud as the user scrolls through them, which Spotify says will make “discovering new audio easier than ever before.”
However, social media users have labeled the new design as “horrifying,” saying they don’t like being “forced” to watch videos when they’ve opened the music app.
One Twitter user said: ‘literally no one on this planet has ever opened spotify and gone “man I wish this homepage was more like tiktok and instagram”.’
The redesigned Spotify homepage features a vertical scrolling feed, similar to TikTok’s, showing video previews of featured songs, podcasts and audiobooks
Social media users have labeled the new design as ‘horrifying’ and say they don’t like being ‘forced’ to watch videos when they have opened the music app
Another tweeted: ‘the new spotify design is terrible. my homepage is full of HUGE, poorly run videos that act as thumbnails for the playlists I’m trying to get to.”
Spotify said: “Our data shows that more listeners become devoted fans after previewing what they’ll be listening to, making this feature just the latest update in our larger mission to create even deeper connections between artists and fans. ”
The music streaming giant announced a host of new changes and features at its “Stream On” promotional event in Los Angeles last night.
Similar to the homepage, users will now see preview video clips of songs as they scroll through search results and certain playlists, such as Discover Weekly and New Music Friday.
In addition to the video-focused interface, there’s a new “Smart Shuffle” option, which shuffles a playlist but adds other songs that the app’s algorithms feel fit the mood.
Some users have access to the beta version of ‘DJ’ – an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that selects tracks it thinks they’ll like based on their app’s usage data.
Podcast episodes now automatically play one after the other, and when it gets to the end of a list, it picks an episode from another featured show.
However, the main focus is clearly on giving users more access to recommendations chosen by Spotify.
One Twitter user said “literally no one on this planet has ever opened Spotify and gone ‘man I wish this homepage was more like tiktok and instagram'”
The music streaming giant announced a host of new changes and features last night at its ‘Stream On’ promotional event in Los Angeles
“Spotify recommendations power nearly half of all users’ streams,” said Gustav Söderström, Spotify’s Co-President and Chief Product & Technology Officer.
‘And if listeners decide to follow a maker, they listen to their music five times more on average.
That’s why discoveries on Spotify — unlike many other platforms — offer creators so much more than just a fleeting moment of viral fame.
“Those meaningful, long-lasting connections are an important part of what makes Spotify a platform for professional and aspiring artists.”
The company has said recently played content and user-defined shortcuts will still appear at the top of the Home feed, but they will also have video or audio previews.
But one Twitter user pleads, “Can’t we just listen to our little songs without being forced to make short videos?”
