Spotify Videos

After writing my recent article titled Spotify Playlists, where I explored the intricate nature of Spotify's role in managing playlists, I couldn't help but ponder on the future of this music streaming giant. Spotify, once a disruptor in the music industry, has grown to an unprecedented scale. However, it seems like they might be underutilizing their potential. In this article, I want to delve into what I believe should be Spotify's next venture – video.

As the tech landscape evolves, Google, once the undisputed leader on the web, has been facing challenges and distractions. This could be an opportune moment for Spotify to step up its game and take on this tech giant. We've seen companies like OpenAI challenging the status quo, so it's clear that there's room for competition. YouTube, Google's video platform, currently dominates the market, but it's not without its shortcomings – from increasingly longer ads to privacy concerns.

One notable issue with YouTube is its disconnect from its creator community, as evidenced by their somewhat awkward Rewind videos. Spotify, on the other hand, has consistently maintained a positive image and reputation. It's been relatively controversy-free, and its privacy policy is transparent. Despite competition from Apple and Google, Spotify remains the preferred choice for music lovers. This indicates a strong user base, willing to pay for subscriptions, a rare feat in the tech world.

Now, why do I think Spotify should explore the world of video? First, they already have the infrastructure in place, evident from their support for video podcasts. Transitioning to video content should be a smooth process for them. Their experience in serving hundreds of millions of subscribers over the years equips them with the skills to handle data at scale while ensuring security and privacy. This skillset is adaptable to various forms of content, including video.

Second, Spotify can leverage its reputation, skills, and user base to create a compelling video platform. Many popular YouTube content creators might be open to expanding their reach through a secondary video channel on Spotify. The integration could be seamless – connecting Spotify and Google accounts, importing existing YouTube videos, all with a click of a button. This would also allow Spotify to verify video ownership and help prevent copyright issues.

Third, assuming Spotify embraces video, the next step should be to enhance its visibility and discoverability on the web. Allowing others to embed their videos without intrusive user tracking scripts would be a great differentiating factor. Next, a sleek, customizable media player could entice websites to choose Spotify over YouTube for embedding content. This could lead to increased engagement with Spotify and a shift in preference towards their platform.

In the current tech climate, now is the perfect time for Spotify to expand its market share into video content. By doing so, they not only broaden their territory but also provide content creators with an additional source of income and increase their visibility. This move would showcase Spotify's innovative capabilities, free from the shadow of tech giants and preconceptions about what role Spotify's should play in our lives.

Spotify, despite its tremendous growth, still retains somehwat of an underdog image. If they play their cards right, they might just become the next-generation platform for media content, encompassing music, podcasts, and video. Who knows, perhaps audiobooks, films, documentaries, VR, and AR content could find a home on Spotify. In my opinion, it's definitely a road worth taking, with the potential to redefine the media landscape.

Let's hope that Spotify's growth remains in check, and we won't have to revisit this topic in the near future with concerns about its dominance. 😉 At least for now, it's an exciting prospect to imagine Spotify evolving into the leading media company of the future.

Update October 18th, 2023

According to this article, it appears that YouTube is struggling with the delivery of ads to its users, as evidenced by its intensified efforts to combat ad blockers to ensure ads are displayed prior to their videos. Spotify, on the other hand, could offer its premium subscribers the option to bypass ads entirely, enhancing its appeal as a video platform for enjoying content without interruptions.

Update November 21st, 2023

As it turns out, Spotify actually had a secret deal with Google when it came to paying commission fees, resulting in Spotify not having to pay Google whenever their users purchased a subscription through Spotify's Adrnoid app. This may very well complicate things if Spotify were to launch a YouTube competitor... 🤔 No conspiracy theory, unless you want it to be. 😉