With DMs, Spotify takes its next step towards becoming a fully-fledged social media platformDMs are coming to Spotify. Yep, after the streaming giant integrated a continuous vertical scroll feature to its platform last year, it seems it’s taking another leaf out of the social media playbook by allowing users to direct message each other without ever leaving the app.
Spotify users have been able to share their favourite songs and playlists for some time, but have generally had to either copy and paste a link or send via WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram or some other external social messaging service. 
Now, the platform aims to keep more of these word-of-mouth recommendations – which it calls “one of the most powerful ways for people to discover” music – within its own service.

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“Spotify users have told us they want a dedicated space within the app to share songs, podcasts, or audiobooks they’re excited about with friends and family, and an easy way to keep track of recommendations,” the company writes in a new post on its Newsroom.
“For artists, authors, and creators, easier sharing means more word-of-mouth recommendations and helps create new fans. Our goal is to give users what they want and make those moments of connection more seamless and streamlined in the Spotify app.
How does it work?
Credit: Spotify
Spotify Messages will begin rolling out this week to Free and Premium users aged 16 and over in “select markets” on mobile devices.
At launch, Messages will be confined to one-on-one conversations with other Spotify users where you can share content – tracks, albums, podcasts etc – and react using emojis, a staple of other social media platforms.
Users will be able to begin a conversation using the same Share button they’ll be used to, only now there’ll be this new option. They’ll also see suggested people to message based on previous interactions, like mutual Jams, Blends, collaborative playlists and so on.
What is Spotify saying about Messages?
While it seems, initially, like Messages are a bid by Spotify to migrate many of the music-centric social interactions which take place off Spotify to its own platform, it still encourages users to continue sharing on other platforms.
“Messages on Spotify are designed to complement these integrations, not replace them, and we’re excited to continue offering more ways to drive hype for the Spotify content you love, wherever you are,” it says.
With the rollout of Messages, Spotify aims to put users “in the driver’s seat”, by enabling them to accept or reject message requests as they wish. Additionally, Spotify Messages are protected by industry-standard encryption, while the company will utilise “proactive detection technology to scan messages for certain unlawful and harmful content”. 
“This is just the beginning,” Spotify writes. “We’re excited to continue building and refining the experience for more Spotify users around the globe in the months ahead.”
In other news, a number of artists have recently left Spotify – including Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – following a large investment by CEO Daniel Ek in AI-driven military weapons company Helsing.
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