Spotify is rolling out a new “About the Song” feature that lets users explore the stories behind the music they’re listening to, the company was announced on Friday. The feature displays short story cards that users can swipe through and rate with a thumbs up or thumbs down.
These scannable short stories are summarized from third-party sources to highlight interesting details and behind-the-scenes moments, the company says.
With this new feature, Spotify gives its users access to a feature not available on rival platforms like Apple Music.
About the Song is in mobile beta in English for premium users in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.
Users can access the new feature through the “Now Playing” screen by scrolling down to find the “About the Song” card on supported tracks, after which they can swipe to explore the story behind the track.
“Music fans know the feeling: A song stops you in your tracks and you immediately want to know more,” Spotify wrote in a blog post. “What inspired it and what’s the meaning behind it? We believe that understanding the art and context behind a song can deepen your connection to the music you love.”
It’s been a busy week for Spotify, as About the Song isn’t the only feature announced in recent days.
Yesterday, the streaming service shared that users in the US and UK will soon be able to purchase physical copies of their favorite recordings directly through the app. Spotify also announced two new audiobook features, including “Page mappingwhich allows users to scan a page from a physical book to jump instantly to that point in the audiobook and Audiobook Recaps.
Earlier this week, the company rolled out lyrics translations worldwide and introduced the ability to view lyrics offline for all users, not just premium subscribers. Spotify has also moved the position of lyrics, as they will now appear directly below the album artwork or short video that plays along with the music.
Earlier today, Spotify said it was revamping its Developer Mode APIs, which developers use to test third-party apps. The changes include a mandatory premium account, a limit on the number of trial users, and a limited set of API endpoints.
