Music and Video streaming service Spotify has launched ‘Spotlight’ a visual podcasts about news, politics and entertainment.
Spotlight is a new multimedia format that will introduce visual layers such as photos, video and text to supplement listening experiences for podcasts, audiobooks, news and other audio content.
The launch of spotify will include content from partners including BuzzFeed News, Cheddar, Crooked Media, Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner’s Lenny Letter, Gimlet Media, Genius, the Minefield Girl, Refinery29 and LeBron James’ Uninterrupted.
In addition, Spotlight will feature content from some of Spotify’s own original series such as “RISE,” “Secret Genius,” “Spotify Singles” and the new “Viva Latino” podcast.
Spotlight, announced in a blog post Thursday that the latest feature is the first big move under Courtney Holt, VP and head of Spotify Studios and Video, the former head of Disney’s Maker Studios who joined the music streamer last fall.
“We are excited to launch Spotlight, a new format that merges great storytelling, news, information and opinion with visual elements all delivered in playlist form across a number of content categories,” Holt said in a statement.
The format doesn’t change much about Spotify’s interface as it currently exists, but rather supplements the listening experience. When you listen to a visual podcast with a video component, for example, the video pops up on the left side of the app. More series will become available throughout the month of February, though Spotlight’s current lineup includes pop culture, sports, politics, and music.
With 70 million users, Spotify is the world’s largest largest music streaming service and this new programming can be seen as an effort to differentiate itself from competitors such as Apple Music. With this expansion into visual content, Spotify also furthers its current competition with YouTube as well.
