Spotify’s UK users are getting access to a fourth category of content to sit alongside its existing library of songs, podcasts and audiobooks: online courses. The company is today launching a new experiment that’ll see video-based lessons from BBC Maestro, Skillshare, Thinkific, and PlayVirtuoso made available via Spotify’s apps on mobile and desktop. The experiment is running in just the UK, and there are currently no guarantees that it’ll get a wider more permanent launch.
Online courses, particularly video-based ones, might feel like an odd fit for a service best known as a source of music and other audio content like podcasts and audiobooks. But product director Mohit Jitani tells me that people are already coming to Spotify for education thanks to some podcasts, so it makes sense to experiment with offering more educational content.
“One of the most interesting things and trends that we started noticing was more and more people were starting to come to Spotify with some intent of learning,” Jitani says. “And we thought, how can we take this core insight and build something on top of it?” In a press release, Spotify says that around half of its Premium subscribers have engaged with education or self-help themed podcasts.
Spotify’s pitch to course providers is not just that it can help them reach a much wider audience, but also that it can more directly target potential customers based on their existing listening habits. “It becomes much, much easier for us to find the right people for this course and just provide a much more efficient kind of distribution,” Jitani says.
The streaming service is offering courses within four categories: make music, get creative, learn business, and healthy living. In Spotify’s mobile apps, courses are accessible from a new pill-shaped icon on the top of the home screen, as well as via the service’s search and browse interfaces. I asked why the company has decided to build them into the same app that’s already overflowing with music, podcasts, and audiobooks, and Jitani told me that it’s partly to do with convenience (users don’t have to download another app and switch between them) and also so that people can be reminded to complete their courses when they open the main Spotify app.
With the experiment, Spotify is offering courses via a freemium model, similar to the one it used when it first launched audiobooks. Free and premium Spotify subscribers alike are able to access at least two video lessons per course for free, but will have to pay a fee to access the full course. Courses consist of a series of videos (which Jitani points out can be listened to with the screen off for an audio-only experience), and there might also be supplementary materials like PDFs.
Although users will need to pay to access a full course, they can’t do this in-app thanks to Apple and Google’s transaction fees (or, at least, Spotify’s reluctance to pay said fees). On Android, purchases work via email; you tap a button in-app to buy a course and Spotify responds by sending you an email with a purchase link. On iOS Apple’s anti-steering rules (now outlawed in the EU) mean Spotify can’t guide you to a purchase link, instead you just have to know to go to Spotify’s web interface and purchase access to courses from there. On the web, courses are available via the URL courses.spotify.com/home.
Spotify is taking a commission on courses sold through its platform, but Jitani declined to comment on the percentage it’s charging course providers. When it comes to moderation, courses will have to abide by Spotify’s platform policies, and the service will offer a reporting mechanism if a user comes across content in a course that they feel breaks the streaming service’s rules.
Although the course content is just a test for now, and there’s no guarantee that it’ll get a wider release, it’s interesting to speculate how learning could play into Spotify’s rumored “Supremium” subscription tier. Reports suggest that the company is planning on bundling access to lossless-quality streaming (a feature it announced way back in 2021 and is yet to actually release) along with additional features like more hours of audiobook listening, advanced mixing tools, and more track filtering options. It’s easy to imagine how access to online courses could one day be offered as an extra sweetener to get people to upgrade as well.
Correction March 25th, 7:39AM ET:Corrected name of course category from “healthy life” to “healthy living.”
FAQs
👉Spotify Adds Video Learning Courses in Latest Experiment
What courses are launched on Spotify? ›
The streaming service is offering courses within four categories: make music, get creative, learn business, and healthy living. In Spotify's mobile apps, courses are accessible from a new pill-shaped icon on the top of the home screen, as well as via the service's search and browse interfaces.
What is happening to Spotify? ›
Spotify had been introducing these features for free since its launch in 2019 but the company says that it is making changes to the free tier since the market has now matured, reported TechCrunch. The new restrictions on free-tier Spotify users will make it akin to the company's service offered in Brazil.
What is the learning content on Spotify? ›
The content for courses on Spotify covers a variety of topics categorized into four main themes: make music, get creative, learn business, and healthy living, giving listeners an abundance of options to expand their knowledge.
What is the new Spotify feature in 2024? ›
Spotify, an online streaming platform, has announced the launch of its “2024 Playlist in a Bottle” designed for music lovers seeking a reconnection with songs that resonate with their musical identities.
When did Spotify add videos? ›
In 2019, the streaming platform launched Canvas, which allowed artists to create three-to-eight-second video clips that loop throughout the duration of the song. And last year, Spotify launched Clips, which allowed artists to make 30-second video clips that could be attached to tracks and albums.
How much do Spotify courses cost? ›
How much are video courses on Spotify? Browsing through the new category, we noticed that prices for courses range from £11 to £240. Generally speaking, tutorials on a specific topic typically cost around the same amount. For instance, DJ and electronic music courses are priced between £15 to £35.
Are Spotify courses free? ›
While you can browse the full range on your phone, and even preview a few episodes for free, you'll need to visit Spotify's desktop website to purchase full courses. Classes, which are split up across multiple lessons, can range from just over an hour to a dozen hours or more.
Does Spotify have machine learning? ›
These AI-powered recommendations are served up in various areas on Spotify's Home screen, such as the “Shows you might like" section, which recommends new podcasts based on your interests. Spotify leans heavily on reinforcement learning, a type of machine learning model that uses signals to optimize toward a goal.
Why did Taylor Swift leave Spotify? ›
In November 2014, Taylor Swift spoke out about the affair. She explained that she had decided to do without Spotify to protest against a streaming system that doesn't pay artists what they're worth and almost makes art seem like something that can be systematically consumed for free.
A poor internet connection will cause frequent pauses while streaming on Spotify. Follow these tips to rule out a connection issue: Ensure you are connected to the right network. Check the strength of your internet connection and see if you can move around to get a better signal.
Why is Spotify struggling? ›
The cost of content is really expensive. If you're going to be an effective music streaming service, you really do need to have essentially all of the world's music, and so you have to pay to license that music. Nearly 70 cents of every dollar that Spotify makes from streaming music goes to music rights holders.
Is Spotify good for studying? ›
Instrumental Study
Instrumental music is one of the best options for enhanced learning but finding the right songs can be tricky when you're accustomed to songs with lyrics. Therein lies the value of this dedicated playlist, which removes lyrics from the mix.
Does Spotify use reinforcement learning? ›
Spotify uses reinforcement learning to recommend just the right songs to its user.
How do I get Spotify education? ›
Get Premium Student
Fill out the SheerID verification form. Note: If your school's not listed in this form, you're not eligible at this time. You'll be asked to log into your college/university's portal, or to upload proof of your enrollment. SheerID will email you to confirm eligibility.
How do you get video mode on Spotify? ›
How Do I Enable Video on Spotify?
- Tap the profile button, then choose Settings and privacy.
- Tap Data Saver and make sure it's set to Off.
- On that same screen, under Video podcasts, ensure that these two options are turned off: Download audio only and Stream audio only.
How Do I Enable Video on Spotify?
- Open the Spotify app.
- Tap Settings (gear icon).
- Make sure the Audio Quality toggle is Off, If it's on, tap it to turn it off. ...
- Make sure the Download audio-only toggle is Off. ...
- Scroll down to the Playback section or tap Playback, and make sure the Canvas toggle is On.
Clips are short, under-30-second vertical videos that are uploaded directly to Spotify for Artists. They're designed to put you and your music front-and-center, so they can be attached to your artist profile, to a song, to an album, or to an upcoming release.
What is the preview feature on Spotify? ›
At the top of the feed, you'll have quick access to your shows. Automatically generated previews will showcase what's in store. For podcasts, real-time transcriptions allow you to easily preview an episode or chapter even with the sound off.
