When I (Ren) first came across this article, I was surprised. My Spotify has been in this format for a few weeks. As I asked around the office, turns out no-one else’s app had changed. I guess I was part of the test group, but don’t feel like you’re missing out, because you’ll soon be joining me. Much like Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and many other big tech platforms before it, Spotify is changing to look more like TikTok.
Spotify’s existing carousel layout (where as you scroll down you are presented with more and more carousels that you can swipe across) will be replaced by a TikTok-style vertical swipe homepage that will autoplay as you scroll.
The product change isn’t particularly interesting in and of itself. What is interesting is the underlying story at play here. Add music streaming and podcasting to the long list of industries that are worried about TikTok. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has launched its own music streaming app, Resso, and launched their own psuedo-record label, SoundOn. And Resso has been signing deals with many of the biggest podcast companies, including the world’s largest pure-play podcast company, Acast.
So it looks like as TikTok comes for Spotify’s market, Spotify is going to make itself look more like TikTok. Ultimately, this battle – as all competitions in the music industry before it – will be decided by the next generation of music listeners. So the question is: Spotify v Resso v Apple Music, which streaming app can capture the Gen Z audience?
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