Snapchat today announced that iOS users around the world will be able to add popular music in their snaps and strories.
The company had already rolled out ‘Sounds’ in countries like New Zealand and Australia and said in August it’d bring music to more regions this fall. Snap doesn’t mention when sounds might be available on Android devices.
The company also said today that it will allow its users make their sounds and that feature will roll out in coming months. Snap still won’t have a feed like TikTok that pushes viral music content, like dances or memes, to users and is instead focused on its partnerships with big publishers and tighter social webs between users.
The company also explained that if users receive a snap with sounds, they can swipe up to view the album art, song title, and name of the artist. They can also tap the “Play This Song” link to listen to the full song on other streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
For now, the company has not revealed how big its music catalog is but calls it “robust and curated.” It also says its licensing deals cover tracks from Warner Music Group, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, BMG Music Publishing, and others.
