Spotify introduced two new features in Messages: Listening Activity and Request to Jam.
The company said the additions are designed to make it easier for users to see what others are streaming and start shared listening sessions.
Listening Activity is an opt-in feature that shows, in real time, what a user is currently playing.
If a user is not actively listening, the last played song appears instead. The activity is visible only to people already connected in Messages, and users can disable sharing at any time.
Tapping on a friend’s activity lets users add the track to their library, start playback, open the track menu, or react with preset emojis.
Request to Jam builds on Spotify’s existing Jam feature, which allows group listening sessions.
From a Messages chat, Premium users can send a Jam request for a remote session. The recipient can accept or decline; if accepted, the recipient becomes the host, and participants can add songs to a shared queue and chat while listening.
Spotify said that Listening Activity is available to all users with access to Messages, while Free users can join Jam sessions initiated by Premium subscribers.
Both features are rolling out now in Messages-enabled markets on iOS and Android and are expected to be broadly available by early February.
Why This Matters Today
The update shows Spotify extending social features directly inside its app as users increasingly share music through private messaging.
For you, this means you can see contacts’ listening in real-time and start remote group listening without leaving the chat.
It also reflects Spotify’s continued push around Jam, which the company said has seen daily active usage more than double year over year.
Adding opt-in status indicators and invitations directly in Messages lowers the friction for shared listening.
Our Key Takeaways:
- Spotify added Listening Activity and Request to Jam to Messages, enabling real-time visibility into what contacts are playing and quick shared listening sessions.
- Listening Activity is opt-in, limited to existing Message contacts, and can be turned off at any time, while Request to Jam allows Premium users to invite others to remote Jams.
- Both features are rolling out now on iOS and Android in Messages-enabled markets, with broader availability expected by early February.
You may also want to check out some of our other tech news updates.
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