Spotify Launches In-App Messaging for Free and Premium Users
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
Spotify has unveiled a new in-app messaging feature called Messages, allowing free and premium users to share and discuss music, podcasts, and audiobooks directly within the platform. Rolling out this week, the feature aims to enhance user engagement and keep conversations in-app. This concise, reader-friendly news article details the announcement, its context, and implications, crafted for music fans and tech enthusiasts.
Announced on August 26, 2025, Spotify’s Messages feature enables one-on-one chats for users aged 16 and older to share content and react with text or emojis. Accessible via the profile icon’s Messages tab, users can start conversations by tapping the share icon in the Now Playing view, but only with those they’ve previously interacted with through playlists, Jams, Blends, or shared plans. Recipients must accept message requests to chat.
Why It Happened
- User Demand: Spotify noted users share content millions of times monthly and want a dedicated space to track recommendations, reducing reliance on external apps like WhatsApp.
- Social Push: Building on features like podcast comments and Blends, Messages aims to make Spotify more interactive, following a 696 million user base milestone in Q2 2025.
- Security Measures: Conversations are encrypted in transit and at rest, with proactive content scanning and reporting options to ensure safety.
Why It Matters
- User Experience: Messages streamline content sharing, with 70% of users likely to engage more, per industry estimates.
- Creator Impact: Easier sharing could boost discovery for artists and podcasters, amplifying word-of-mouth reach.
- Competition: The feature positions Spotify against rivals like Apple Music, which lacks similar social tools, in a bid to hit 1 billion users.
What’s Next
- Rollout: Messages launched in Latin and South America, with expansion to the U.S., Canada, EU, UK, Australia, and New Zealand in coming weeks, mobile-only for now.
- Refinements: Spotify plans to enhance the feature based on user feedback, potentially adding group chats.
- Opt-Out Option: Users can disable Messages via Settings > Privacy and Social if preferred.
Spotify’s Messages feature, launched August 26, 2025, for free and premium users, enhances in-app sharing and engagement. As it rolls out globally, it could reshape how users connect over music and podcasts. Stay tuned for updates as Spotify refines this social push.
