This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32815605
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Spotify adds podcasts and video clips | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Spotify has announced it is adding more non-music content to its app. | |
| The new offerings include news bulletins from National Public Radio, the BBC and others as well as longer video and audio podcasts and clips. | The new offerings include news bulletins from National Public Radio, the BBC and others as well as longer video and audio podcasts and clips. |
| Spotify has more than 60 million regular users across 58 countries. It says about 20% pay for its premium ad-free subscription services. | Spotify has more than 60 million regular users across 58 countries. It says about 20% pay for its premium ad-free subscription services. |
| Chief executive Daniel Ek said that represents more than half of the global market in "streaming dollars". | Chief executive Daniel Ek said that represents more than half of the global market in "streaming dollars". |
| The company said it had also taken steps to match the music tracks it suggests to the various activities users engage in throughout their day. | The company said it had also taken steps to match the music tracks it suggests to the various activities users engage in throughout their day. |
| This includes a new running mode, which matches music to the pace of the subscriber based on feedback from their smartphone's built-in sensors. | This includes a new running mode, which matches music to the pace of the subscriber based on feedback from their smartphone's built-in sensors. |
| The firm said it had also created a new type of audio format that allows a song's tempo to be altered to match a runner's footsteps while keeping it in tune. | |
| And it has commissioned new track from composers and DJs including Tiesto, who made a brief appearance at the firm's New York press conference. | |
| "If it works, the ability of Spotify to adapt what it plays you as the day progresses is interesting," commented Andy Malt, editor of the music business news service Complete Music Update. | "If it works, the ability of Spotify to adapt what it plays you as the day progresses is interesting," commented Andy Malt, editor of the music business news service Complete Music Update. |
| "Being faced with a choice of tens of millions of tracks is daunting for a lot of users when they open the app, and while that catalogue is a big sell for the engaged music fans who were streaming's early adopters, it's less appealing to mainstream users. | "Being faced with a choice of tens of millions of tracks is daunting for a lot of users when they open the app, and while that catalogue is a big sell for the engaged music fans who were streaming's early adopters, it's less appealing to mainstream users. |
| "The less users have to interact the more music the app can serve up to them. Adding non-music content, including podcasts and video, also has the potential to keep users within the Spotify app for longer." | "The less users have to interact the more music the app can serve up to them. Adding non-music content, including podcasts and video, also has the potential to keep users within the Spotify app for longer." |
| One of the new pieces of audio content is BBC Minute - an "alternative" round-the-clock news service, aimed at a youth audience, already offered to other digital platforms. | One of the new pieces of audio content is BBC Minute - an "alternative" round-the-clock news service, aimed at a youth audience, already offered to other digital platforms. |
| Launched in April, it is a 60 second conversation of shareable news, updated every half hour. | Launched in April, it is a 60 second conversation of shareable news, updated every half hour. |
| In addition, for a year-long period, overseas Spotify users will be able to listen to around 50 speech-only podcasts from BBC stations. | In addition, for a year-long period, overseas Spotify users will be able to listen to around 50 speech-only podcasts from BBC stations. |
| "These programmes are already freely available in the UK, so we're running this trial only for overseas users," the corporation said in a statement. | "These programmes are already freely available in the UK, so we're running this trial only for overseas users," the corporation said in a statement. |
| "This means we can generate income for the BBC to reinvest in programmes for licence fee payers as well as reaching new audiences across the globe." | "This means we can generate income for the BBC to reinvest in programmes for licence fee payers as well as reaching new audiences across the globe." |
| Disney, the sports network ESPN, the science-tech talks organiser TED, Conde Nast Entertainment and the US TV channels MTV and NBC are among those who have also committed to providing material. | |
| Spotify said it would suggest video and audio shows to users based on their past use. | |
| The announcement comes less than three weeks before Apple's developers conference, when the iPhone-maker is expected to reveal plans for a streaming music service based on its takeover of Beats Music. | |
| Spotify is also facing new competition from Tidal, a music service relaunched by the musician Jay Z and backed by other famous stars. Jay Z said last month that it had signed up 770,000 subscribers. | Spotify is also facing new competition from Tidal, a music service relaunched by the musician Jay Z and backed by other famous stars. Jay Z said last month that it had signed up 770,000 subscribers. |
| The new services will initially be offered to iPhone users in the US, UK, Germany and Sweden, before being extended to other platforms and countries. |