Spotify may provide you with music, but it looks like it is trying to expand its media options.
Spotify hosted a media event on Wednesday so it could announce some major updates to the music streaming service.
First off, Spotify founder Daniel Ek revealed that the company was adding a number of new media formats, including video and podcasts, and that Spotify would partner with media companies to provide new content. The media partners include NBC, Slate, Vice NEWS, BBC, NBC, ABC, Comedy Central MTV, E!, TeamCoco, TED, CBS Radio, PRX and many others.
While this sounds like Spotify is trying to compete with YouTube, Techcrunch noted that the presentation made it seem like most of the video content would be clips from popular programming.
Spotify also announced that it was updating it's recommendation engine. The company will now pay attention to a user's listening habits and recommend playlists according to those interests. For example, if a user prefers happy or high-energy music during the morning, then Spotify will adjust its recommendations to accomodate that behavior.
Finally, Spotify is adding a "Running" playlist feature, which will use smartphone sensors to determine the user's BPM and design a playlist with a beat that's compatible with the runner's pace. The company also mentioned that it was creating special compositions that would track and change the music beat according to the user's pace. There's just one caveat; the Running feature will require users to have the Nike or Runkeeper app installed.
All of Spotify's new features are currently only available in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Sweden. The company has yet to reveal when these features will reach other countries.
