Spotify is running a new experiment in the app that encourages users to react to playlists with recordings.
Yes, audio reactions that could be released as podcast episodes. It is currently only being tested with a limited group of users, but it already lets you know what this new dynamic is all about.
Audio reactions on Spotify
As mentioned in TC, Spotify is testing a new audio feature that encourages users to respond to playlists by recording audio.
In other words, the user can record a message mentioning what they think of the content, if there are any songs they like, if it reminds them of a moment in their life or any thoughts they have with the Creator they would like to share the playlist.
Apparently, this option is at the top of the playlist, along with buttons to share, download or expand the list of recommended songs. The option to record our reaction has a microphone icon and when we press it a message like “What do you think? Record an episode to share your thoughts in the playlist” along with the button to start recording.
You can record simultaneously or create multiple clips by pausing recording. And it can also be edited to add background music and tags. In a way, Spotify encourages users to improvise a podcast from their playlist reactions, using only their phones.
What is happening with this recording? One way is to post it to the profile of the user who created the playlist so that the rest of the audience can hear it as a podcast episode. It’s just a test for now, so we’ll have to wait and see how Spotify decides to implement this dynamic in the app.