Spotify has unveiled its brand-new Messages feature, a direct messaging system baked right into the app.
The rollout, which began this week across select global markets, gives both Free and Premium users aged 16 and above the chance to slide into one another’s DMs—Spotify style. The new tool allows subscribers to share songs, albums, playlists, podcasts, and even audiobooks directly within the app. Alongside the content, users can exchange text, emoji reactions, and replies in one-on-one conversations.
Until now, the ritual of sending your favorite new jam to a friend usually meant hopping over to WhatsApp, Telegram, or Instagram. Spotify is changing all that. The Messages tab sits neatly within your profile, and sharing is just a tap away from the “Now Playing” screen. By cutting out third-party apps, Spotify is pitching itself as a music destination and also a communication hub for all things audio.
The company frames the feature as a streamlined way to keep track of recommendations. Think of it as the modern upgrade to the mixtape era—except instead of burning CDs or curating a cassette, your carefully picked track list drops instantly into a private thread.
Spotify is also aware that social features can get messy without safeguards. That’s why users have control over who can message them. Each message request can be accepted or declined, and options to block or report accounts are built into the settings. For anyone who isn’t interested in chatting, there’s a simple opt-out toggle that disables the feature entirely.
Behind the scenes, the company has added encryption protocols to protect conversations, alongside content moderation tools to keep harmful or abusive behavior in check.
This new messaging layer could breathe life into music discovery. Instead of algorithm-driven playlists, listeners might start relying on friends’ recommendations again—restoring a human touch to the streaming experience.
Spotify’s move should be read as part of a larger strategy. Competitors like Apple Music and YouTube Music have been trying to outdo each other with exclusives, spatial audio, and higher fidelity. By leaning into social interaction, Spotify is carving a different path: community building inside the app.