Spotify is testing token-enabled music playlists

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Music streaming service Spotify is testing a new service called “token-enabled playlists,” which will allow holders of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to connect to their wallets and listen to curated music.

Currently, the service is available to token holders within the Fluf, Moonbirds, Kingship and Overlord communities. The curated playlists will be actively updated during the three-month trial period and can only be accessed by community members via a unique link.

Web3 gaming and media universe Overlord tweeted Wednesday that holders of the lizard-themed Creepz NFT project can link their Web3 wallet on Spotify to access the project’s community-curated “Invasion” playlist.

Overlord tweeted that the pilot is currently only available to Android users in the US, UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

Spotify appeared to confirm the details in the tweet response.

Universal Music Group’s NFT band KINGSHIP also shared that it had created a token-gated playlist for NFT holders featuring Queen, Missy Eliott, Snoop Dogg and Led Zeppelin.

Lead developer for NFT liquidity protocol NFTX Apoorv Lathey tweeted a screenshot from the pilot, showing step-by-step how to access KINGSHIP’s curated playlist on Spotify.

According to the screenshot, NFT holders can connect their Metamask, Trust Wallet, Rainbow, Ledger Live or Zerion wallets.

A spokesperson for Spotify told CoinDesk that it “routinely performs a variety of tests in an effort to improve our user experience.”

“Some of them end up paving the way for our broader user experience, and others just serve as important learning,” the spokesperson said.

Spotify did not provide further details on plans to roll out the feature more widely in the future.

The global streaming platform, which has over 489 million users, has previously experimented with integrating NFTs into its service. In May 2022, Spotify allowed a select group of artists, including Steve Aoki and The Wombats, to promote NFTs on their profiles.

Meanwhile, a number of Web3 music platforms have emerged to decentralize the music listening experience. Audius, for example, is a crypto-linked streaming service that allows users to earn AUDIO token rewards for interacting with their app, while Royal and another block allow creators to sell music royalties as fractional NFTs.