No1 Meta and Instagram Develop New Social Music
Introduction Of Meta
Meta is advancing its integration of music within its social platforms, and the latest move involves testing a new social music-sharing feature on Instagram. This feature, first uncovered by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, indicates that Meta and Spotify are exploring deeper music integration through Instagramβs Notes, allowing users to continuously share the music theyβre listening to directly from Spotify.
Table of Contents
The New Feature: Continuous Music Sharing via Notes
The upcoming functionality is designed to enable users to “continuously share” their Spotify playlists or songs through Instagramβs Notes, an area of the app used for quick status updates. Unlike the current music-sharing options that allow users to post 30-second clips from Instagramβs own music catalog, this feature will automate music sharing directly from Spotify. Users can still control this sharing, with the option to stop at any time.
While the feature is still in development, the potential for real-time music sharing could add a new dynamic to Instagram’s user engagement. Instagram introduced the ability to share short song clips via Notes in 2022, but this continuous sharing functionality would represent a significant enhancement, integrating Spotify’s music catalog more deeply into Instagram’s ecosystem.
Expanding Social Music Discovery
Spotify has long recognized the role of social networking in music discovery, and the potential collaboration with Meta could further enhance this experience. Currently, Spotify allows users to connect with Facebook to see what their friends are listening to, but deeper integration with Instagram could bring this feature to a broader audience on mobile devices.
In recent months, there have been additional signs of closer collaboration between the two companies. Technologist Chris Messina noted the addition of a “SpotifyiOS.framework” component in Instagram’s app code, which further supports the possibility of upcoming music-related features. Messina’s earlier predictions about music being added to Instagram profiles, now confirmed with a feature launched in collaboration with singer Sabrina Carpenter, hint at Instagramβs plans to bolster music discovery.
A Strategic Move Against Common Competitors
This potential feature not only strengthens Metaβs relationship with Spotify but also positions both companies against a shared competitorβApple. Meta and Spotify have expressed concerns over Appleβs App Store practices, which require developers to share revenue through commissions on in-app purchases. Additionally, Apple Music competes directly with Spotify, while Metaβs advertising business has been impacted by Appleβs privacy features.
The development of a new social music-sharing feature is an extension of the partnership between Meta and Spotify, which began in 2021 with the introduction of a miniplayer on Facebook that streamed Spotify content. As competition intensifies and music discovery becomes an increasingly social activity, this integration could be a powerful tool for both companies.
What to Expect
Although thereβs no official release date for this feature, the testing phase suggests that Meta and Spotify are committed to enhancing music-sharing experiences on Instagram. Should it launch, the feature will likely attract users who enjoy sharing their listening habits with friends and followers, further blurring the lines between social networking and music streaming.
As the partnership between Meta and Spotify evolves, this new feature could pave the way for more sophisticated music-sharing tools and strengthen Instagramβs position as a platform for social music discovery. For now, users can look forward to potential updates that will make sharing their favorite tunes even more seamless and engaging.