In New York today, streaming leader Spotify announced an expansion into video, original content and podcasts. The new Spotify experience rolls out today in the US, UK, Germany and Sweden, and will reach other countries and regions soon.
Founder and CEO of Spotify, Daniel Ek in his keynote presentation revealed that users all over the world has streamed over 25 billion hours worth of music since the service debuted 7 years ago.
Discovering music through playlists is huge amongst Spotify users, and they do this 2 billion times a month.
“Streaming is the growth of music, and Spotify is the growth in streaming,” quipped Ek. Spotify is by far the largest company in the growing streaming industry.
The expansion into video content and original content is backed by renowned content partners and channels like the Walt Disney Company, MTV, ABC, Vice Media, BBC, Conde Nest Entertainment, TED, Comedy Central, Epic TV and more.
Spotify says this is just the start and there will be more original video and music coming to the service.
Made for running
Running and music are two elements that go hand-in-hand, and Spotify is jumping on the bandwagon in a big way. Spotify Running cleverly uses phone sensors in smartphones to detect your running pace. It detects your running tempo and recommends the appropriate music for you. This happens within 5 seconds.
Spotify also announced that it has worked with award-winning music producers to create a new non-stop track format called Running Originals that adapts to your running pace. The track composition is organic, and intelligently rearranges itself to fit. There are six formats so far including Burn (by Tiesto), Blissed Out, Seasons, Epic, Lock the Flow and The Chase.
Spotify will take this approach and apply it to other aspects of consumer lives soon.
In terms of other partnerships, Spotify and Nike have collaborated to bring the service to Nike+ running club member. A new experience will be rolling out through the Nike+ app in summer.
The Runkeeper app will also be receiving a new Spotify experience.
Ek briefly mentioned a partnership with Starbucks in the US where outlets will play special playlists. There will also be rewards for the 10 million Starbucks card members.
No word on when the new Spotify experience will roll out in Malaysia yet. In Malaysia, you can subscribe to Spotify Premium via telcos like Maxis or Digi, or direct from Spotify. Spotify Running will start rolling out to iPhone users globally today.
