Spotify Gets Into the Holiday Spirit With Snapchat-Style Stories Trial The music streaming platform has created a carbon copy of Snapchat and Instagram's Stories feature.

By Stephanie Mlot

This story originally appeared on PC Mag

Getty Images via PCMag

Spotify has jumped on the ephemeral content bandwagon—and just in time for the holidays. The music streaming platform is publicly testing Snapchat-esque Stories, which have appeared for some users (myself included) in the mobile app.

First spotted by self-described "internetainerpreneur" TmarTn on Twitter, the initial set of fleeting films is housed in Spotify's "Christmas Hits" playlist. Tap to see the story, and watch artists Ava Max, Meghan Trainor, Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge, Stevie Mackey and Jennifer Lopez, and Pentatonix share the stories behind their latest holiday tunes. (Even "Santa Baby" composer Phil Springer makes an appearance.)

Image Credit: Spotify via PCMag

A carbon copy of Snapchat and Instagram's Stories, Spotify's latest experiment lets users tap on the left or right side of the screen to quickly navigate through videos; click the three dots in the lower right corner to report a story.

It's unclear who has access to the feature; I was able to find it using my Premium account and iPhone. There's no word on when (or if) it will be widely available; Spotify did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment.

What began as a Snapchat original has permeated social media. Instagram and Facebook launched their own versions in 2016 and 2017, respectively, while professional network LinkedIn began testing a similar function in September. And it's been less than two weeks since Twitter rolled out its own version of Stories, called Fleets.

This isn't even Spotify's first foray into the format. In 2019, it invited some musicians to share insights into their music-making process through a series of 24-hour clips.

Stephanie Mlot

Reporter at PCMag

Stephanie began as a PCMag reporter in May 2012. She moved to New York City from Frederick, Md., where she worked for four years as a multimedia reporter at the second-largest daily newspaper in Maryland. She interned at Baltimore magazine and graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (in the town of Indiana, in the state of Pennsylvania) with a degree in journalism and mass communications.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Costco Is Now Offering an Additional Exclusive Perk to Members in All 50 States

Members can now access discounted outpatient medical care through a partnership with healthcare startup Sesame.

Business News

Why This OnlyFans Star Is Walking Away from Making Millions a Month. 'Success Does Not Bring Self-Love.'

Malaysian model MSPUIYI has millions of followers, but she's quitting to pursue her dream.

Business News

8 People Hospitalized on JetBlue Flight Headed to Florida Due to Turbulence

The turbulent conditions occurred near Jamaica on a flight coming from Ecuador.

Business News

Dads Who Do This Simple Activity With Their Kids for 10 Minutes a Day Are More Likely to Raise High Achievers

The straightforward approach can give children an advantage over their peers.

Branding

Don't Be a Boring Brand – How to Create Brand Distinction That Has Everyone Turning Their Heads

In the minds of most consumers, you're selling commodities — unless you've created a brand distinction. This article will show you how to craft a brand that's not just known but unforgettable.

Business News

ChatGPT Will Soon Be Able to Speak, Listen and Have Instant Conversations

Open AI announced updates to the AI technology arriving in the next two weeks.