Spotify Expands on Instagram with Audio Previews and Real-Time Updates

Spotify has expanded its presence on Instagram with two new features. Audio previews can now be included in Stories, allowing friends to listen to a short clip and tap the music sticker to open the full track on Spotify. Meanwhile, Instagram Notes now supports real-time updates, showing what you are currently listening to or the next track within 30 minutes. Friends can respond directly, save songs to their library, or explore related Reels.

Spotify has significantly bolstered its presence on Instagram with two innovative new features aimed at enhancing music discovery and sharing. The first feature allows users to include audio previews in Instagram Stories, providing friends with a brief taste of a song. The second feature enables real-time music updates in Instagram Notes, showcasing what users are currently listening to or the next track within 30 minutes. These updates follow a growing trend of music platforms integrating with social media to offer richer experiences [1].

Audio Previews in Instagram Stories

With the new audio preview feature, when a user shares a song from Spotify to their Instagram Story, a short audio snippet automatically plays. This snippet gives viewers a taste of the song, and they can tap the music sticker to open the full track on Spotify. Viewers can also tap the song title to view details, explore related Reels, or save the track directly to their Spotify "Liked Songs" playlist. This feature simplifies the process of discovering and keeping new music from friends' stories [1].

Real-Time Music Sharing in Instagram Notes

The real-time music sharing feature in Instagram Notes allows users to display their current musical mood or favorite tracks in real-time. When enabled, the Note automatically updates to show the track currently playing or the next song within 30 minutes. Friends can respond directly, save the song to their library, or explore related Reels. This feature enables users to stay updated on what their friends are listening to and share their own musical preferences effortlessly [2].

Integration and Accessibility

Both features are available globally for Spotify and Instagram users on Android and iOS. To use these new features, users need to ensure their Spotify and Instagram apps are updated. Linking a Spotify account to Instagram is straightforward and can be done via Instagram Settings App website permissions. Users can also tap a Spotify song shared in Reels, Stories, or Notes, hit "Add," and be prompted to link their accounts [2].

Conclusion

Spotify's integration with Instagram is a strategic move to enhance user engagement and discovery. By offering audio previews and real-time music sharing, Spotify is making it easier for users to share and discover music. This could potentially drive user growth and engagement, which are key metrics for Spotify's financial health [1].

References

[1] https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/now-spotify-shows-audio-previews-on-instagram-stories-here-s-how-it-works-125082200437_1.html
[2] https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-08-21/spotify-takes-instagram-sharing-to-the-next-level-with-audio-previews-and-real-time-listening-notes/