Snapchat is officially rolling out a real-time music sharing feature called “Now Playing,” allowing users to broadcast what they are listening to directly on the Snap Map, TechCrunch has exclusively learned.
How the ‘Now Playing’ Integration Works
The feature enables users to link their streaming service accounts—starting with Spotify—to their Snapchat profile. Once connected, your friends can see the tracks you are currently enjoying via the Snap Map. Additionally, the integration extends to Spotlight, Snapchat’s short-form video feed. If you discover a song in a Spotlight video, you can save the track directly to your Spotify library or visit the song’s dedicated page on the platform.
Privacy Controls and Activity Tracking
Snapchat has implemented granular privacy settings for the new tool. Users maintain full control over who can view their listening activity. The app will not display your historical listening data or your last-played song; instead, it tracks current activity only as long as the app has been opened within the last 24 hours. If a user remains inactive for more than 24 hours, sharing pauses automatically, resuming only upon the next app launch. Furthermore, users can manually disable the feature for three hours, 24 hours, or indefinitely.
var playerInstance_jwplayer_6a794886603bb = jwplayer( “jwplayer_6a794886603bb” );
playerInstance_jwplayer_6a794886603bb.setup({
playlist: “https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/lv0GaEwB”,
});
The Growing Trend of Social Music Discovery
This move aligns with a broader industry shift toward social music integration. Competitors like TikTok have long utilized music to drive viral trends, while Instagram allows users to share tracks via Notes in their DM inboxes. Spotify itself has also doubled down on social features, enabling real-time listening sessions among friends.
“Music is one of the most personal ways people express themselves, and it becomes even more meaningful when it brings friends closer,” said Manny Adler, Snapchat’s head of music, in an emailed statement. “Now Playing adds a new layer of expression and discovery to Snap Map, helping Snapchatters share the soundtrack to their day and find new music through the people they already know.”
Evolving the Snap Map Experience
The “Now Playing” feature is the latest expansion for Snap Map, which currently boasts over 450 million monthly active users. Since its 2017 debut, the tool has evolved from a simple location-sharing utility into a comprehensive discovery hub featuring local hotspots, public Snaps, and now, a personalized music layer.
Snapchat confirmed that the feature is currently rolling out to all regions where both Spotify and Snapchat are supported, with availability in Canada expected to follow shortly.
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