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Spotify is rolling out two new features within its Messages system – Listening Activity and Request to Jam – designed to foster a more connected music experience among users. These updates aim to make it easier than ever to share what you’re hearing and enjoy music together in real-time. The rollout began on January 7,2026,with full availability expected by February [[1]].
What is Listening Activity?
Listening Activity allows users to share, in real-time, what music they are currently enjoying with their friends and family within Spotify Messages. This feature functions similarly to the “scrobbling” feature popularized by Last.fm in the early 2000s [[1]].if a user isn’t actively listening to music,the last song they played will be displayed. It’s an opt-in feature, controllable through the ‘Privacy & Social Settings’ tab, ensuring users have control over what they share. Even if you don’t share your own listening activity, you can still see what your friends are listening to, provided they’ve enabled the feature [[3]].
How Does ‘Request to Jam’ Work?
Complementing Listening Activity, the ‘Request to Jam’ feature simplifies initiating shared listening sessions. Users can easily invite friends to join and listen to music together, with the ability to chat in sync while enjoying the music. This feature streamlines the process of collaborative listening, making it a more social experience [[2]].
Availability and Access
Both features are currently being rolled out to iOS and Android devices. Listening Activity is available to all users who have access to Spotify Messages. Notably, free Spotify users can join “Jam” sessions initiated by Spotify Premium subscribers [[1]].
impact and User Engagement
Spotify reports that over 40 million users have already sent nearly 340 million messages using the Spotify app, demonstrating the platform’s growing role as a social space for music lovers.These new features are expected to further boost user engagement and strengthen the connection between friends and family through shared musical experiences [[1]].
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