Spotify is lowering the barriers for users considering a switch from rival music platforms. On Thursday, the streaming giant introduced a new built-in feature powered by TuneMyMusic, enabling users to seamlessly transfer playlists from other services directly into their Spotify library. The update marks one of Spotify’s most consumer-friendly improvements in recent years and strengthens its competitive position in the increasingly crowded music streaming market.
A Simpler Way to Switch Streaming Services
The new integration lives inside the “Your Library” section on the Spotify mobile app. After scrolling to the bottom of the page, users will now see an option to “Import your music.” Tapping it launches a guided process that links directly to TuneMyMusic, a popular tool for playlist migration.
Users can then choose the platform they’re moving from, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, Pandora, YouTube Music, and more. Once connected, they can transfer playlists in minutes—without leaving the Spotify app.
Importantly, Spotify emphasizes that the process does not delete the original playlists. It simply creates copies of them on Spotify, preserving the user’s library across both platforms.
Strengthening Spotify’s Competitive Position
The new feature increases pressure on competitors and deepens Spotify’s advantage in the ongoing streaming wars. While some platforms already offer migration options, Spotify’s move stands out because the capability is now embedded directly in the app, reducing reliance on external websites or third-party instructions.
Apple Music, for example, provides playlist import support through the iOS and iPadOS Settings app and within its Android app. YouTube Music Premium users can also import playlists from other services. However, both competitors require users to navigate menus outside the main application.
By bringing the experience inside Spotify’s own interface, the company aims to streamline the onboarding process for the millions of users who may be willing to switch platforms but feel locked into years’ worth of curated playlists. This friction—known as “switching cost”—has long been a barrier in the subscription industry.
Spotify’s new feature directly addresses that pain point.
Why Playlist Portability Matters Now
The timing of Spotify’s integration is strategic. Global competition in streaming is heating up, content costs are rising, and subscriber acquisition is becoming harder. As consumers face rising subscription fatigue and platform price hikes, many are reevaluating which services offer the best value.
Playlist portability empowers users to switch more freely. In markets like the U.S., U.K., and Europe—where Spotify is growing more slowly—such features can help attract subscribers from competing ecosystems.
There is also a broader regulatory context. Global policymakers have been pushing companies to adopt clearer data portability measures, ensuring users can move digital assets between platforms. While music playlists may seem small, they fall under that evolving framework of consumer rights and digital ownership.
A Win for Both Spotify and TuneMyMusic
TuneMyMusic has long been a popular tool among users migrating their libraries. Its standalone website offers free transfers for up to 500 tracks, with paid plans required for unlimited transfers.
While Spotify hasn’t disclosed the commercial terms of its partnership with TuneMyMusic, the collaboration benefits both:
- Spotify gains a frictionless onboarding tool to convert curious users into paying subscribers.
- TuneMyMusic gains exposure to Spotify’s global base of more than 600 million users, effectively positioning it as the default migration engine for the world’s biggest music streaming platform.
The integration also allows Spotify to avoid building the migration technology itself while still offering users a seamless experience.
Enhancing User Experience as Streaming Evolves
The playlist import feature is one of several recent updates aimed at strengthening user experience on Spotify. As the music streaming industry matures, easy onboarding and personalization have become key growth drivers.
For users who have spent years crafting playlists on another platform, the idea of starting fresh can be enough to keep them from switching—even if they prefer Spotify’s interface or recommendation engine. Bringing playlist transfers directly into the app removes that friction.
The update also fits into Spotify’s broader strategy of offering tools that keep users more deeply connected to the platform—from AI-powered DJ features to enhanced discovery tools and personalized mixes.
What This Means for the Future of Streaming
For now, Spotify gains a clear advantage. Whether the move triggers similar in-app playlist migration features across the industry remains to be seen, but the race to offer seamless switching appears to be accelerating.
