“Did you listen to that song I sent you?”
If you are like many, the answer is often no. You might not have been able to, or maybe you were not in the mood at the time, and so it inevitably got lost in your chat, only to finally resurface when your friend plays it for you on the speaker. However; Spotify’s new Messages feature aims to change this.
What is Spotify Messages?
Messages is a one-to-one direct messaging feature that allows users to share music, podcasts, and audiobooks within the Spotify app. It was launched on August 26 2025, and is rolling out from this week to free and premium users aged 16 and over in select markets on mobile devices.
Users can access the messaging feature by clicking the share icon when listening to something and selecting a recipient. Users can only send messages to those they have previously interacted with on the platform, including friends, fellow Spotify plan members, and anyone they have collaborated with on playlists, jams, and blends. Crucially, recipients must accept message requests to initiate conversations. Once accepted, users can engage in back-and-forth chats and react to messages with emojis, much like DMs on Instagram and X. Users can access their Messages inbox, which contains all their conversations, by tapping their profile picture in the top-left corner of the app.
Messages places a strong emphasis on user safety. In addition to having to accept message requests, users can opt out of Messages entirely through settings. Users can report messages for violating Spotify’s Terms of Service or Platform Rules, which moderators will then review. Spotify says messages are protected with industry-standard encryption in transit and at rest. Although, they lack end-to-end encryption, with Spotify stating it will use proactive detection technology to scan messages for unlawful and harmful content.
What is so good about Messages?
Spotify users have long been able to share links to songs, podcasts, and audiobooks through external messaging apps. However, Messages consolidates these interactions within the Spotify app, creating a dedicated space for sharing and discussing content recommendations. So, if your friend recommends a song that you cannot listen to right away or forget to do so, it will still be easy to find later. No more getting lost in the chats.
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By GlobalDataThis should drive engagement on the app, which is good news for both creators and artists and Spotify itself. After all, an artist may unlock a new fan for life that may have otherwise missed out on hearing their music. Spotify claims content on its platform is already shared millions of times each month, and messages will streamline this process.
Will Messages actually be used?
The key question is whether Messages will gain traction. Spotify previously had a similar feature to Messages but canned it in 2017 due to low engagement. However, Spotify has significantly increased its user base since then, with global monthly active users increasing from 207 million by the end of 2018 to 696 million in Q2 2025.
Reaction to Messages has been mixed. Some critics argue it amounts to “feature creep”, while others advocate for focus on what they deem more critical enhancements, such as long-awaited HiFi audio.
Despite the criticism, there will inevitably be a dedicated user base that adopts Messages for its utility, exploiting it for its ease of sharing content while exchanging a brief comment or two on what they thought about a particular listen. Do not expect deep chats, except among a minority of hardcore music fans. There will inevitably be the odd romance story from users who happened to be on a jam together at a party but did not quite make it to talking in person.
Looking forward on Spotify
If engagement with Messages proves sufficient to justify the resources invested in it, we can expect the feature to expand beyond mobile devices and into wider markets. Group chats are a logical next step.
We can also expect the inevitable introduction of an AI chatbot to Messages. Ultimately, some users will embrace Messages, while those who do not like it can simply turn it off. On balance, it is a welcome new addition to Spotify.
