https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFsPDBPYMGs

Spotify have joined other streaming services like Tidal and Apple Music by launching it’s own original video content on their music streaming platform.

Last Thursday Spotify released their first original video with a short animated history of EDM and how it “changed the world”. The video was first in a video series from Spotify called ‘Deconstructing’ which takes a look at the influence, social effect, and history of various parts in the world of music.

Spotify announced earlier this year in May that they were launching 12 original video series as their first phase of video production. Unfortunately their debut hasn’t been as popular as they might have hoped with some saying the video was too short, skimming over to many details in EDM’s history, and confusion as to why Spotify’s video content is only available on their mobile apps still, leading many to just watch it on YouTube.

Whilst the first video may have not been met with universal adoration their upcoming ‘Landmark’ series looks to be a lot more successful. The series looks at monumental moments in musical history, created for “a new generation of listeners”, and starts with ‘Metallica – The Early Years’ releasing tomorrow August 18th. Another episode covering Beach Boys’ monumental record ‘Pet Sounds’ has also apparently been recorded.

Spotify described ‘Metallica: The Early Years’ saying:

Metallica: The Early Years celebrates penpals, the birth of thrash metal, heavy-riffing cellists, and the origins of one of rock’s most influential bands. Focusing on the period from band’s formation in 1981 through the release of 1984’s Ride The Lightning, each chapter features candid interviews, rare archival footage, messed-up animations from Anthony Schepperd, and unusual context showcasing the strange ways Metallica’s tentacles continue to worm their way through our collective unconscious.

Spotify say that each installment of Landmark will be made up by a series of short videos, rather than one extended one. They wanted to release each installment in multiple parts so that viewers could choose whether to watch the sections of their choice or watch them all together, which Spotify say will total about half-an-hour for each installment.

Spotify isn’t the only music streaming service getting into video as both Apple Music and Tidal have been experimenting with various bits of video content the past year. However Apple Music and Tidal have both been producing a mix of original video content as well as making music videos available through their services.

Spotify launched a videos section earlier this year but was weirdly filled with news, skits, TV clips, and episodes of cartoons. Spotify Videos is also curiously only available on their mobile apps and not their desktop. Perhaps that will change with the introduction of original video content.