If you’ve ever felt like you have too many messaging apps, get ready to add one more to the list. Spotify has officially rolled out “Messages,” an in-app direct messaging (DM) feature, and the internet has some strong feelings about it. For long-time users, this might feel like déjà vu—Spotify actually had a messaging feature years ago but scrapped it in 2017 due to low engagement. 1
So why bring it back now? Is this the convenient chat hub we’ve been waiting for, or is it just more app bloat? Let’s break down what Spotify’s new DM feature is, why it exists, and whether it’s something you’ll actually use.
What Are Spotify Messages and How Do They Work?
First things first, let’s get into the basics. The new “Messages” feature is a dedicated space within the Spotify app for one-on-one conversations. The main idea is to let you share songs, podcasts, and audiobooks without having to leave the app. 2
Here’s a quick guide on how to use Spotify DMs:
- Sending a Message: While you’re listening to a track or podcast, just tap the “share” icon. You’ll see a list of suggested Spotify contacts you can send it to directly.
- Finding Your Inbox: To see all your conversations, tap your profile picture in the top-left corner of the app. New messages will arrive as a request, which you have to accept before the chat can begin. 3
- Who You Can Message: You can’t just message any random user. Spotify suggests contacts based on people you’ve already interacted with, like those you share a Family or Duo plan with, or people you’ve collaborated with on playlists, Jams, or Blends. This approach helps minimize the chances of receiving spam from strangers.
The feature is available for both Free and Premium users who are 16 or older and is currently rolling out on mobile devices in select markets.
Why Is Spotify Pushing for DMs Now?
This is the big question. On the surface, Spotify says it’s simply giving the people what they want. The company claims users have been asking for a central place to share recommendations and keep track of them without juggling multiple apps. For artists and podcasters, the logic is that easier sharing leads to more word-of-mouth discovery.
But there’s a deeper strategy at play. By adding DMs, Spotify is making a clear move to transform itself from a simple music streaming service into a social audio platform. The goal is to create a “closed-loop ecosystem” where you not only listen but also share and discuss content without ever leaving the app. 4
Every time you share a song and chat about it within Spotify, you’re spending more time on the platform. This increased engagement is incredibly valuable. It makes the app “stickier,” meaning you’re less likely to switch to a competitor like Apple Music. Furthermore, these interactions generate a new layer of data that can help Spotify refine its famous recommendation algorithms and even create more effective, targeted ads.
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A Welcome Feature or Unnecessary Bloat?
User reaction to the announcement has been sharply divided, highlighting a split in what people want from a music app.
On one side, many users are celebrating the convenience. They’re tired of the clunky process of copying a link, switching to another app, and pasting it into a chat. For them, having a dedicated space for music recommendations is a welcome change, preventing those great song suggestions from getting lost in a sea of other messages. Some are even excited about the creative potential, joking about a new era of “Spotify ‘n swoon” where flirting happens via playlists.
On the other side, there’s a loud chorus of users experiencing “messaging fatigue”. Many feel it’s unnecessary bloat and would rather Spotify focus on its core function: delivering music. A common complaint is that the company is developing a chat feature while the long-promised Hi-Fi audio is still nowhere to be seen. Sentiments like, “I just want to listen to my songs in peace,” perfectly capture this frustration.
This frustration is compounded by a much larger controversy brewing outside the app. The DM feature arrives as Spotify faces a significant backlash from artists and users over CEO Daniel Ek’s personal €600 million investment in Helsing, a German defense company specializing in AI-powered military technology. This has led to a wave of artists, including Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, pulling their music from the platform in protest. Their reasoning is stark, with bands like Deerhoof stating, “We don’t want our music killing people”. For many users, this ethical line, combined with long-standing complaints about low artist payouts, has triggered calls for boycotts, with some cancelling their subscriptions entirely. In this context, the launch of a new social feature is seen by some as a poorly timed distraction, an attempt to gain traction while losing goodwill from the very creators and fans the platform relies on. 5
A Quick Word on Your Privacy
With any new messaging service, privacy is a major concern. It’s important to know that Spotify’s “Messages” are not end-to-end encrypted. While Spotify uses “industry-standard encryption in transit and at rest,” the company also uses “proactive detection technology” to scan messages for harmful or unlawful content. This means that, unlike a truly private app like Signal, Spotify can technically access your conversations.
However, Spotify does give you control over your experience. You can block and report users, and if you decide the feature isn’t for you, you can opt out of it completely in the app’s settings.
The Final Takeaway
Spotify’s re-entry into the world of DMs is a calculated bet on the future of social audio. The company is wagering that owning the conversations about music is just as important as providing the music itself.
Whether this is a good thing really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a seamless way to share and discuss music with friends, “Messages” might become your new favorite feature. But if you prefer your music app to be just that—a music app—it might feel like a step in the wrong direction. Either way, Spotify is making it clear that it wants to be more than just the soundtrack to your life; it wants to be the place where you talk about it, too.
- https://lifehacker.com/tech/spotify-is-getting-dms ↩︎
- https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/home-entertainment/spotifys-new-dm-feature-lets-you-chat-with-friends-in-app-now-heres-how/ ↩︎
- https://newsroom.spotify.com/2025-08-26/introducing-messages-a-new-way-to-share-what-you-love-on-spotify-with-friends-and-family/ ↩︎
- https://rollingout.com/2025/08/26/the-spotify-feature-that-rival-instagram/ ↩︎
- https://midnightrebels.com/artists-earn-big-on-bandcamps-3-5m-day-as-peers-ditch-spotify-over-ceos-link-to-machines-that-could-kill-people/ ↩︎
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