Spotify, the music service, announced on Wednesday the latest addition to its streaming platform – apps.
At an event in New York titled “What’s next for Spotify?”, members of the blogging and traditional press gathered to see what Spotify had to show off. Many had predicted a new iPad app, which Spotify has been lacking for some time. Others expected a newer software interface, boasting a DJ mode and gapless playback, all features which have been heavily requested on the official Spotify GetSatisfaction page.
At the beginning of the press event, Daniel Ek, Spotify’s CEO, took to the stage to talk about how Spotify is integrated tightly with Facebook, and how that has created a huge boost in the company’s users. Spotify now has over 10 million active users, and over 2.5 million paying Unlimited/Premium members.
Ek then went on to dismiss all the heavily-sought features that users had been hoping for, claiming that Spotify wants to improve its overall service before adding features which ‘get in the way’ of the music listening experience.
Spotify Apps is the next big push for the company, where it hopes to fuse together the act of listening to music and using other music-related services. The apps run inside the Spotify desktop software, and are created using HTML5, CSS and JavaScript.
Some of the launch apps include TuneWiki, Billboard, Last.fm, Rolling Stone and The Guardian.
TuneWiki provides a karaoke-style lyric service for Spotify. The lyrics are crowdsourced, and synchronised to the track by fellow listeners.
Another interesting app is Rolling Stone, where Spotify users can browse Rolling Stone ratings and reviews, then play the song, all from within the Spotify interface.
That said, the response to apps hasn’t been exclusively positive. Many people are complaining that the apps are not useful, and Spotify should have invested their time in the much overdue iPad app, and other requested features.
With apps, Spotify aims to create a tightly woven music service, where the listener can interact more with the music they love. For many users who listen to Spotify in the background while working, apps will prove a waste of time. However, for true music lovers, apps will allow listeners to become more immersed in the music and artists they love.
