Spotify officially announced the addition of support for music videos. Described as a “beta” feature, it offers a “limited catalogue” of music videos initially available in 11 markets. Artists like Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Ice Spice, Aluna, and Asake are among those supported. Sten Garmark, Spotify’s global head of consumer experience, explained to TechCrunch that the full music video catalogue will eventually encompass “thousands” of songs.
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Accessible through the Now Playing screen on compatible tracks, users will find a “Switch to Video” icon above the song title. Tapping it restarts the song and initiates playback of its music video in the centre of the display. Users can rotate their iOS or Android device to view the video fullscreen and return to the traditional Now Playing interface by tapping “Switch to Audio.”
Currently, the feature is limited to select markets including the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Kenya. Garmark explained that these markets were chosen based on criteria such as market size and the availability of local content support.
Spotify also stated that the music videos feature is available on desktop and TV devices, but users must have a Premium subscription to access it.
Although primarily known for audio streaming, Spotify has previously supported various forms of video content, including video podcasts and Clips, short vertical videos enabling direct interaction between artists and fans. With the introduction of music videos, Spotify aims to offer artists another avenue to engage listeners and cultivate fan bases.
