Meta and Spotify are looking into deepening their musical collaboration on Meta’s popular app, Instagram. According to recent discoveries, the two giants are in the testing phase of a feature that could revolutionize how users share the music they’re jamming to directly on Instagram’s Notes.
The first to spot this potential upgrade was Alessandro Paluzzi, a well-known reverse engineer who has a knack for uncovering features still in the experimental phase. While Meta and Spotify regularly explore new functionalities, this particular finding doesn’t guarantee a public release anytime soon.
Paluzzi unveiled a screenshot on Meta’s Threads showcasing a new way for users to “continuously share” their Spotify tunes, moving away from Instagram’s existing practice of selecting music from its own catalog. The feature promises the flexibility to stop sharing at will.
This innovation could expand on a development launched over a year ago, enabling Instagram users to share 30-second snippets of songs through Notes. Since its introduction in 2022, Notes have allowed users to post statuses or brief updates above their inbox, with support for song snippets available globally in areas where Instagram holds music licensing rights.
An integration with Spotify could automate these music shares, adding dynamic content to Instagram even when users are engaged elsewhere.
Spotify, known for its social networking capabilities, lets users see what their friends are listening to via a “connect with Facebook” option. It has also explored a Community feature for real-time music sharing on mobile, though it hasn’t officially launched.
Despite Spotify’s addition of social features, like podcast commenting and enhanced user profiles, music discovery often happens on dedicated social media where users have established their networks.
Other signals hint at a closer Meta-Spotify collaboration. Technologist Chris Messina noted a “SpotifyiOS.framework” added to Instagram’s app, suggesting an impending alliance aimed at rivaling TikTok’s music discovery dominance.
The two companies have previously collaborated on music initiatives, including a miniplayer on Facebook for direct Spotify streaming. Their shared challenges with Apple, from in-app payment issues to competition with Apple Music, further link Meta and Spotify as allies in the tech and music sphere.
While both Meta and Spotify have yet to officially comment, the implications of this partnership could significantly impact the social media and music industries, promising an enriched user experience through seamless music sharing.