Spotify has introduced new social features to make music sharing more interactive within its Messages section. The Listening activity feature allows users to share what they’re currently listening to in real time, or their most recently played song if inactive.
This feature is opt-in and visible only to selected friends and family. Users can enable it via the Privacy and social settings, and even if they don’t share their own activity, they can still view others’ updates.
Friends can interact with shared tracks by adding them to their library, playing them instantly, opening the track menu, or reacting with six standard emojis. This approach enhances music discovery without leaving the chat interface.
Spotify also launched Request to Jam, an upgrade to its existing Jam feature, making it easier to coordinate live listening sessions.
From Messages, Premium users can send a Jam request, and if accepted, the recipient becomes the host. Both participants can add tracks to a shared queue, listen together, and leave the session at any time. Unanswered requests expire automatically.
Both features are rolling out on iOS and Android in markets where Messages is available. Listening activity will be available to all users, while Request to Jam is limited to Spotify Premium subscribers. Broad availability is expected by early February. These updates aim to make music listening a more social, interactive, and collaborative experience directly within Spotify.
