Spotify has introduced new social features designed to make music sharing more interactive inside its Messages section.
The update brings real-time Listening Activity and a new Request to Jam option, allowing users to connect with friends through music more seamlessly on both iOS and Android devices.
The first feature, Listening Activity, lets users display what they are currently listening to directly inside Spotify Messages. This feature is opt-in and is turned off by default to protect privacy. When enabled, friends and family you’re already connected with on Spotify can see your current track in real time. If you’re not actively listening, your most recently played song will be shown instead. Notably, you can still view others’ listening activity even if your own activity is turned off, as long as they’ve chosen to share theirs.
Users can enable Listening Activity by heading to Privacy and Social settings within the Spotify app. Once activated, your listening status appears in the chat row of the side drawer and at the top of Messages conversations. Spotify also allows you to control who sees your activity, and the feature can be disabled at any time. Tapping on a friend’s listening activity lets you play the track, save it to your library, open the track menu, or react using one of six built-in emojis.
Spotify has also launched Request to Jam, a new way to invite friends to join a live listening session remotely. While the Jam feature has existed for some time, Spotify says it was often unclear when friends were available to listen together. Request to Jam solves this by showing when a friend is already listening and allowing you to join them instantly.
Premium users can send a Jam request directly from a Messages chat by tapping the Jam icon in the top-right corner. Once the request is accepted, the recipient becomes the host, and both users can add songs to a shared queue and listen together in sync while chatting.
Users can leave a Jam session at any time, and unanswered invites automatically expire after a few minutes. Spotify confirmed that Listening Activity is available to all users, while Request to Jam is exclusive to Premium subscribers. Both features are rolling out in regions where Spotify Messages is supported and will be widely available by early February.