- Spotify’s SongDNA tool is cropping up for more beta users
- At the moment it seems that it’s only available in Spotify for Artists, but some listeners have reported having early access
- Spotify hasn’t said when it’s being rolled out, but it’s already a hit
Spotify has put its upcoming SongDNA feature on the backbench for a few months, but now that more users are finding it in beta, it’s never felt closer — and it’s shaping up to be a serious rival to Tidal’s similar tool.
References to SongDNA, a mind-mapping feature that shows you what other songs your favorite artists have contributed to, were first spotted back in October, but at the time they were simply rumors with no hard evidence. We can now put all the speculation aside, because Spotify has officially confirmed that SongDNA is on the way, and a handful of beta users are already offering their verdicts — and they’re all positive.
A post in the r/truespotify community on Reddit (see below) shows that SongDNA is available through Spotify for Artists Preview, an app that gives artists and their teams early access to upcoming features before they’re rolled out to listeners. If you’re an admin or editor in Spotify for Artists, have at least 10 monthly active listeners, and are using version 9.1.28 (or higher) of the Spotify mobile app, you qualify for early access.
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It seems that SongDNA isn’t widely available in AB testing for standard listeners yet, though some have reported seeing it in their Spotify accounts. We’ve reached out to Spotify for more information, and will update this story when we know more — but what we do know is those with access are pleased with what they’re seeing.
Beyond its immersive visual elements and insights into song production, users are finding this feature one of the best ways to learn about the connections between their favorite songs, as well as discovering new artists. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg; SongDNA goes the extra mile to show tracks that have been sampled for a song, and cover versions — and I think it could be the most valuable tool Spotify launches this year.
If you love Wikipedia black holes, you’ll long SongDNA
Between October and now, Spotify has expanded its Song Credits tab, which now reveals the complete list of contributors to a song, as well as its handy About the Song tool. But the platform hasn’t offered anything quite like SongDNA before — and based on early reactions, it’ll introduce a new and interactive way of discovering new music.
For me, music discovery is one of the essential parts of the best music streaming services, but I often hit a wall with Spotify because my usual discovery tricks work brilliantly on some days, and then they stop working for a certain period of time. SongDNA provides a constant flow of information, and I can definitely see rival platforms adopting similar features.
Tidal has spotlighted contributors and producers for a while, and Apple Music has also been experimenting with a tool of its own. Last year it rolled out Listening Guides for Apple Music Classical, a feature that gives you the insights to a piece of music, highlighting key details and explaining the story behind the work.
Have you got access to Spotify’s SongDNA? If so, let us know what you think of it in the comments.
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rowan.davies@futurenet.com (Rowan Davies)
