Spotify has introduced a new way for users to share the best bits of the podcasts they listen to. The new podcast timestamp sharing feature is similar to YouTube's 'Start at' checkbox, which allows users to start videos from a certain point when sharing them. Spotify has been rolling out new features at a rapid pace of late as it seeks to cement itself as the leading audio listening platform.
Some of the most recent updates were introduced to help people connect with loved ones while keeping apart during the pandemic. Remote Group Sessions, for example, allow a group of up to five people to listen to the same music wherever they are in the world. Other features, like its paid podcast subscriptions, are aimed at improving the quality of content, while others are simply for convenience. An example of that is the ability to now play Spotify songs directly within the Facebook app.
The newly-announced podcast timestamp sharing is being made available for iOS and Android users, but Spotify hasn't mentioned whether it will come to the desktop client too. When users hear something interesting, funny, or otherwise compelling in a podcast they are listening to, they can just tap the 'share' button in the app. Previously, it was only possible to share links to full episodes, but the new feature introduces the option of toggling on a 'share from' setting that displays the timestamp within the episode. Once that's done, users just need to select the service via which they want to share the link, tap 'send to,' and then select the contact they have in mind. At this point, it's possible to add an optional message with text, emojis, stickers, and so on.
Why Is Podcast Timestamp Sharing Important?
Spotify says that, according to a survey of its users, around 40 percent of music discovery is attributed to social channels. This feature is focused on podcasts, of course, but the importance of social sharing for discovery still stands. In short, people are always looking for new things to listen to, making sharing as easy as possible helps them discover new gems, and those who know people best often give the best recommendations.
This is good for Spotify too, of course. The easier it is for its users to share content, the more others listen, and the more it generates revenue through advertising and subscriptions. With the likes of Apple, Amazon, and Google following Spotify with their own music and podcast platforms, Spotify is ensuring it's making it as easy as possible for users to enjoy its service and as hard as possible to leave.
Source: Spotify