Spotify is introducing three new ways to share music and podcasts on social media.
“Over the past year, social sharing has been more important than ever in bringing people together and helping friends, family, and fans connect from afar,” a company blog announcement said. “We’re making it even easier to share your favorite track or podcast episode with your friends through your social media channels.”
Podcast Timestamp Sharing
Android and iOS users around the world can tap into fresh features, including long-awaited podcast timestamp sharing. While users could previously share only a link to an entire episode, you can now skip the boring stuff and invite folks to listen from the exact moment you think they’ll love.
Just tap the “share” button while listening, look for the “switch to share” feature at the current playtime, and select where to send the content—Messages, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Recipients can simply open the link and jump right in.
Canvas Previews and a New Layout
Artists are engaging fans in new ways with Canvas, a short looping visual that can be added to individual tracks on Spotify. Considered album artwork for the streaming age, the feature turns static song pages into video showcases. And now, music lovers can preview a Canvas before posting the track to Snapchat or Instagram Stories.
An updated mobile menu, meanwhile, ensures available messaging and social media destinations are laid out clearly in an easy-to-view grid, so you don’t have to keep searching for the right platform.
“We’re constantly evolving the Spotify experience to meet listener needs and working to provide the best possible audio experience for listeners around the world,” the blog said. “These three updates make sharing music and podcasts easier than ever—letting friends, family, and even followers fall in love with the tracks and episodes you’re listening to.”