Spotify adds real-time listening activity to Messages
Spotify announced on Wednesday new features for its Messages function, allowing users to view friends’ real-time listening activity and send Jam requests within the iOS and Android apps. The updates aim to enhance in-app social interactions and retain users who previously shared music externally.
Users activate the listening activity feature by accessing Settings, selecting Privacy & Social, and toggling on the option. With this setting enabled, an individual’s current streaming content displays prominently at the top of their Messages chats. This visibility enables direct engagement with friends’ selections inside the platform.
Video: Spotify
Interaction with a friend’s listening activity occurs through a simple tap on the displayed track. Available actions include immediately playing the song, adding it to a personal library for later access, opening the full context menu for additional options, or responding with an emoji reaction. These functionalities provide seamless ways to discover and engage with shared music without exiting Spotify.
Premium subscribers gain access to the Jam request capability via a dedicated “Jam” button located in the top-right corner of a Messages chat. Selecting this button sends an invitation to the recipient to initiate a collaborative session. Upon acceptance by the invited user, the original requester assumes the role of Jam host. Both participants then contribute tracks to a communal queue, facilitating synchronized listening regardless of location.
Video: Spotify
The rollout of Listening Activity and Request to Jam targets iOS and Android devices in regions where Messages operates. Full availability across these markets is scheduled for early February. Listening Activity extends to all users equipped with Messages access. Free tier users, however, participate in Jam sessions exclusively through invitations from Premium account holders.
Spotify restricts both features to individuals aged 16 and older, aligning with the age threshold for Messages usage. The platform introduced Messages in August 2025 as part of efforts to foster a more social environment within the app. Historically, users disseminated Spotify links for music and podcasts via external channels. These messaging enhancements encourage retention by confining interactions to the service, potentially drawing more subscribers to paid plans.
Current Messages functionality limits communications to one-on-one exchanges. Eligible chat partners consist solely of those with prior content-sharing history, including playlist collaborators, Jam participants, or Blend users. Security measures encrypt messages both at rest on servers and during transmission between devices, though end-to-end encryption remains absent.