Spotify has rolled out two new social features inside its in-app Messages system, making it easier for users to discover what their friends are listening to and start shared listening sessions. The updates include real-time listening activity and a new Request to Jam option for remote group listening on mobile devices.
With listening activity enabled, users can now see the track a friend is currently playing, or the most recent song they listened to if they are offline. Spotify says the feature is optional and can be managed through Privacy and social settings. Listening activity is only visible to friends or family members already connected through Messages, and users can turn it off or limit visibility at any time.
Listening activity appears at the top of chat threads and in the Messages side panel. By tapping on a contact’s activity, users can play the song, save it to their library, open the track menu, or react with one of six preset emojis. Users can view friends’ activity even if they have not enabled their own, as long as the other person has opted in.
Spotify has also added Request to Jam, allowing users to launch Jam sessions directly from Messages. Jam lets multiple users listen together while adding songs to a shared queue. According to Spotify, daily active use of Jam has more than doubled compared to last year.
Premium subscribers can send Jam invitations from chat using a dedicated button. The recipient can accept or decline the request, and accepted invitations turn the recipient into the Jam host. Participants can add tracks, chat during playback, and receive song recommendations based on combined listening preferences. Invitations expire after a few minutes if not accepted.
Free users can join Jam sessions when invited by a Premium member but cannot start one themselves. Both new features are rolling out on iOS and Android in regions where Spotify chats are available. Listening activity is available to all chat-enabled users, while Request to Jam requires a Premium subscription to initiate.