Spotify’s app redesign takes cues from TikTok to help you find new content

TikTok’s vertical video stream has become the holy grail for many tech giants, with big names trying to copy the format in hopes of capturing more eyeballs. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Netflix all have their own version of the infinitely scrolling vertical interface. But social networking sites aren’t the only ones trying to push users into a bottomless pit of content; Spotify has also been experimenting with the format since 2021. Now, the music streaming service is taking the TikTok formula up a notch, redesigning its mobile interface that borrows heavily from the video music app.

Spotify has introduced a new way to discover songs and artists within the app, using the format popularized by TikTok. The Home section of the platform’s mobile app will soon feature a vertically scrolling feed that will allow users to browse, save and share music. Like TikTok, the feed serves up auto-play content that gives you a quick preview of songs and playlists without fully immersing yourself.

Visual and audio previews are available in the Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks tabs in addition to album art. Below that are auto-playing clips from popular artists’ music videos that you can tap to get a deeper look. Podcast listeners can listen to their favorite podcasts without interruption and discover similar types of content thanks to a new feature that automatically plays another episode of interest after the current one ends.

When you tap the Music tab, you’ll be greeted by Spotify’s AI DJ below a grid of eight personalized shortcuts. You can scroll through Instagram-like full-screen cards with video clips that provide information about Spotify’s recommended playlist.

Additionally, Spotify is adding song suggestions to its own playlists with a new feature called Smart Shuffles, a rebranded “Enhanced” feature introduced in 2021. If you double-tap the shuffle icon, Spotify will shuffle your manually created playlist with the following. song suggestions that “fit the mood perfectly”.

Meanwhile, the new discovery feeds are also visible in the Search section, where you can scroll through Canvas clips sorted by genre. You can save a song to a playlist by tapping the “plus” button in the lower right corner, share it with your friends, or follow the artist. For proper measurement, Spotify displays hashtags in the feed to entice you to discover new songs in related genres.

These visual previews can also be found on curated playlists like Discover Weekly, Release Radar, New Music Friday, and Rap Caviar. However, Spotify’s latest tweaks aren’t a complete TikTok clone. Unlike TikTok, you won’t be able to add comments to songs (Spotify isn’t a social media platform, after all). But since the platform’s formula has proven to be an ideal format for content discovery, we can expect more venues to attempt cosplay under the TikTok name in the near future.