Spotify is launching a new feature called “Jam” that enables friends to collaboratively curate a single playlist on the platform and enjoy it together in real time. This feature allows participants in a Jam session to contribute tracks to a shared queue, regardless of their geographical location. While Spotify is rolling out Jam to both free and Premium subscribers, only Premium users can initiate a session and invite others to join as the host.
How It Works
For Premium users, starting a Jam session is simple. They can select a song or playlist and then tap the speaker icon at the bottom of their screen or the three-dot menu at the top. This prompts them to choose “Start a Jam.” If they are on the same Wi-Fi network as housemates, those users will receive an automatic invitation to join and contribute to the session. Hosts can also invite participants from anywhere globally by sharing a QR code or posting a link on social media.
Host Controls and Guest Participation
While Jam encourages collaborative playlist creation, hosts retain control over the session. They can rearrange the order of tracks and remove songs that don’t fit the theme or vibe. Additionally, hosts can decide who participates in the Jam. It remains to be seen whether hosts can remove participants during a session. However, hosts can enable “Guest controls” to allow all participants to rearrange the playlist or remove tracks.
Global Availability
Spotify Jam is launching globally, ensuring that users worldwide can enjoy this shared listening experience with their friends. For those who prefer solitary listening but still want to discover new music, Spotify’s daylist, introduced earlier this month, offers a personalized playlist that changes throughout the day based on the user’s music preferences.
