Spotify joins the Web3 ranks with the revelation that it is testing something called “token-enabled playlists,” which allow holders of specific NFTs to access uniquely curated playlists on the service.
It’s an interesting move that ties Spotify into the burgeoning world of Web3 and cryptocurrencies and gives some NFT holders yet another reason to hunt down specific collections.
Spotify is testing NFT-locked curated playlists
You could be forgiven for being a bit skeptical of the idea of locking exclusive Spotify playlists behind the requirement to own a specific non-fungible token. After all, despite their potential, NFTs remain incredibly niche.
But now Spotify has partnered with a number of NFT projects to test out NFT and Web3 integration on the music streaming platform. The NFT projects registered on Spotify include:
- Overlord, a gaming and entertainment brand
- Kingship, a metaverse band
- Fluf, an ecosystem of NFT characters and collectibles
- Moonbirds, a collection of NFT bird profile pictures
How do Spotify’s Web3 NFT curated playlists work?
Each NFT project has created a unique playlist. The playlist remains locked unless you try to access it using a link from the NFT project. When you click the link, it validates ownership of the project NFT in your Web3 wallet (you can use a Web3 wallet like MetaMask), connects it to Spotify, and accesses the NFT-locked playlist.
A tweet from NFTX (another NFT project) lead developer, Apoorv Lathey, illustrated the Spotify NFT playlist process and the steps required to unlock the NFT project’s curated music experience.
So, yes, to use Spotify’s NFT locked playlists, you need a Web3 wallet.
This isn’t Spotify’s first NFT integration, and it won’t be the last
In 2022, Spotify launched a short trial for a select group of artists, allowing them to sell NFTs directly from their Spotify account pages. The project didn’t last long, but it shows that Spotify has a certain appetite for Web3 and NFT integrations on its platform.
While the idea of locking playlists behind an NFT is interesting, it is also important to note that the NFT projects do not upload unique music to Spotify that is beyond the reach of regular users. For example, metaverse band Kingship’s Spotify playlist includes tracks by the likes of Missy Elliott and Led Zeppelin, which you can go listen to right now without owning an NFT.
But don’t rule out tighter integrations like this in the future. After all, NFT projects are always looking to make their NFTs stand out from the crowd, and a truly unique audio experience on Spotify could be just the ticket.
