Spotify Introduces New "Messages" Feature for Sharing Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks

Spotify has introduced a new "Messages" feature that allows users to share music, podcasts, and audiobooks with friends without leaving the app. Users can share content with friends they share a Spotify plan with or have previously interacted with through Jams, Blends, or Collaborative Playlists. The feature is rolling out to select markets and can be accessed by tapping the share icon in the Now Playing view. However, not everyone is happy with the new feature, with some users expressing their dislike for the new feature on social media platforms like X.

Spotify has rolled out a new "Messages" feature that enables users to share music, podcasts, and audiobooks directly within the app. The feature, which is available to both Free and Premium users aged 16 and older in select markets, allows for one-on-one conversations where users can share content and react with emojis or text [1].

The new feature is designed to provide a dedicated space for users to share their favorite tracks, podcasts, or audiobooks with friends and family. Spotify users have expressed a desire for a more integrated way to share content, and the Messages feature aims to centralize these interactions within the app [2].

To use the Messages feature, users can tap the share icon in the Now Playing view and select a friend from their contact list. Spotify will suggest contacts based on prior sharing activity, collaborative playlists, or shared Family and Duo plans. Recipients can choose to accept or reject message requests, and users can opt out of receiving DMs entirely via the settings menu [1].

Spotify has emphasized that the Messages feature is not intended to replace existing social media platforms. Instead, it aims to complement them by providing an additional way for users to share content without leaving the app. Users can still share their favorite tracks on platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok [2].

The feature includes privacy and safety features, such as the ability to accept or decline requests, block accounts, and disable Messages entirely. Conversations are protected with industry-standard encryption in transit and at rest, and Spotify employs proactive detection technology and moderator review to prevent harmful or illegal content [1].

Spotify views the Messages feature as just the beginning of creating richer social interactions on its platform. The company plans to continue refining and expanding the feature to more users worldwide in the coming months [2].

However, not everyone is thrilled with the new feature. Some users have expressed their dislike for the new feature on social media platforms like X, citing concerns about privacy and the potential for spam [3].

Spotify reported 276 million paying subscribers in the second quarter of 2025, a 12% year-on-year increase. With only 3% of the global population currently subscribed, Spotify sees significant growth potential [3].

References:
[1] https://www.thv11.com/article/news/nation-world/spotify-messages-feature/507-fec89ff3-c060-4406-8429-7413cd59f7ae
[2] https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/spotify-rolls-out-messages-feature-for-users-share-music-podcasts-more-via-dms-125082700195_1.html
[3] https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/spotify-introduces-app-direct-messaging-feature