Where are Spotify music videos available?
Spotify has announced music videos are coming, but what are the requirements and where are they available today?
Finally, after years of expanding their audio formats, from music to podcasts, and Canvas to video podcasts, Spotify are taking the last step in rolling out music videos. Spotify says they have found tracks that feature a Canvas video drive more engagement, with a higher rate of user shares, saves or adds to playlists found on these visual tracks.
The option to watch a music video will show in the Now Playing screen, via a “Switch to Video” button. This implementation is clean, allowing users who don’t care for music videos to just enjoy the music, without the risk of higher data consumption or interruptions from parts of the track that don’t make sense without the accompanying video.
Unfortunately, music videos aren’t available to everyone just yet. They are rolling out in beta to Premium users in 11 markets, including U.K., Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Kenya. To start, music videos are only available for a limited catalogue. Currently, you’ll find music videos on some tracks from Ed Sheeran, Doja Cat, Ice Spice, Aluna and Asake.
No word yet on when music videos will roll out to all users and artists.
How to watch music videos on Spotify
Note the feature is still rolling out, so even if you do meet the requirements above, you may not see music videos just yet. Music videos are available on iOS, Android, desktop and the TV app.
- Update the app
- Search for “Aluna – Nowhere to Hide”, or “Asake – Terminator” (these are both tracks we know have music videos, according to the promo material)
- Open the Now Playing screen by tapping the banner at the bottom of the app
- Tap “Switch to Video” to pull up the music video or “Switch to Audio” to just listen
- Rotate your device to fill the screen
So many times in my own experience and for countless others, music videos play a key role in hooking you: taking you from being a listener to leaning in and becoming a fan. They’re an important part of so many artists’ tool kits, and it’s a natural fit for them to live in the same place that more than half a billion people choose to listen to music.
Charlie Hellman, Vice President and Head of Music Product, Spotify