Spotify Launches Direct Messaging Feature for Sharing Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks

Spotify is rolling out a new direct messaging feature that lets users share music, podcasts, and audiobooks with friends without leaving the app. The feature, called Messages, is launching this week in “select markets” and will be available on mobile for Free and Premium users aged 16 and above.

Users can send content by tapping the share icon while listening to a song, podcast, or audiobook in the Now Playing view, then selecting a friend. Messages can be sent to people on the same Spotify plan or users previously interacted with through Jams, Blends, or Collaborative Playlists.

The feature is designed to centralize content sharing that typically happens over text, social media, or third-party messaging apps, making it easier to track and revisit shared audio. All shared content appears in a Messages inbox, accessible under the user’s profile picture in the top-left corner of the app. Messages are private 1:1 chats, support text and emoji reactions, and are protected by “industry-standard encryption.”

Users can accept or reject message requests, block others, or completely opt out of Messages. They can also report inappropriate content or accounts by holding down on a message. Spotify will monitor the feature for “unlawful and harmful content” and review reported messages.

It remains unclear whether artist accounts will have access to the feature for fan interaction. Spotify emphasizes that Messages is meant to complement existing social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and TikTok, not replace them. The addition is notable because it’s available to Free users and could signal a future expansion of social interaction features on the platform.