Music streaming giant Spotify has announced the global expansion of its artificial-intelligence-powered “DJ” feature, seeking to enhance the listening experience of Premium subscribers.
Launched in beta six months ago, the feature, likened to a tailored radio host, was initially introduced in the United States and Canada before reaching the United Kingdom and Ireland three months later.
While the feature remains in its beta phase, Premium subscribers in about 50 markets worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Singapore, and South Africa, will now be able to access the feature, the company announced Tuesday (August 8).
Spotify noted that the AI-powered DJ will continue to operate solely in the English language across the new markets.
The AI DJ, accessible through the ‘Music’ feed section within the Spotify mobile app, tailors the listening experience of users through a curated selection of songs. Accompanied by a vocal commentary, it offers insights that directly reference a user’s past musical preferences.
Users can also change the genre, artist or ambiance by tapping the ‘DJ’ button on their app.
Spotify said the foundational voice model for the DJ feature is inspired by Spotify’s Head of Cultural Partnerships, Xavier “X” Jernigan.
Jernigan previously served as one of the hosts on the platform’s first (and personalized) morning show, The Get Up.
Back in February, Spotify said Jernigan’s “personality and voice resonated with our listeners and resulted in a loyal following for the podcast.”
“DJ’s powerful combination of our personalization technology, generative AI in the hands of our music experts, and a dynamic AI voice makes it possible for listening to feel even more personal, and fans keep coming back for more.”
Spotify
“At its core, DJ is all about connection and discovery. DJ’s powerful combination of our personalization technology, generative AI in the hands of our music experts, and a dynamic AI voice makes it possible for listening to feel even more personal, and fans keep coming back for more,” Spotify said.
Early observations by Spotify found that when DJ listeners hear commentary alongside personal music recommendations, users are more willing to explore new sounds and genres, potentially leading to the discovery of previously overlooked tracks.
The development marks Spotify’s latest effort in embracing AI. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek in April said AI’s relationship with music “is very early days and it’s an incredibly fast developing space.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it in technology, how fast innovation and progress is happening in all the really cool and scary things that people are doing with AI at the moment,” Ek added.
Back in May, Spotify rival Anghami announced its AI-Powered Personalized Podcast and AI Newsroom, allowing users to create and customize their own personalized podcast by selecting topics, voices, and languages including English, Arabic and French.
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