Music streaming giant Spotify is rolling out an update for its group session feature. Users involved in a group session will have a shared volume option to control the volume without having to move the phone from hand to hand.
Spotify’s group session is a paid member feature that allows users to play songs together using a compatible speaker while the devices are connected to the same WiFi network. Shared volume control allows each user to adjust the volume on the shared compatible speaker. The group owner can turn this feature on or off by tapping the option called “Allow others to change the sound” in the app.
However, it is worth noting once again that the new update is only available to users with paid memberships. It may take some time for the option to appear on your Android or iOS device as the feature is gradually rolled out. A blog post said that Spotify’s shared volume control will work on all WiFi-enabled speakers using the Spotify Embedded SDK, such as Chromecast, Amazon Cast, Sonos, and Bose.
Shared voice control is currently not compatible with AirPlay, Car or Bluetooth devices. Spotify said the shared volume control option will automatically turn off when the fourth user joins a group session “to allow the group leader to retain control in larger sessions”. However, this only happens once per session and the host can re-enable the option.
While users are still waiting for Spotify’s HiFi subscription option to arrive, the company plans to bring full-length music videos to its app. A recent update to the desktop app has added new sections showing what’s playing and what’s in your library.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek also confirmed last month that they are testing an offline mashup playlist that will automatically download songs for offline listening. The company laid off 200 employees from its Podcast business and also reportedly fined Spotify $5.4 million for GDPR violations.
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