In 2024, Spotify followed in YouTube Music’s footsteps by introducing music videos to the app in limited regions, leaving out the US and Canada, but now things have changed.
Starting today, after nearly two years, Music Videos will finally be available in beta to Premium subscribers in the US and Canada, allowing users to switch between audio and video streaming. The update follows the huge success of Spotify Wrapped 2025.
IN Notice on the Spotify blogThe company shared its enthusiasm for the introduction of music videos in North America and described the impact of visual guidance when listening to music:
“For decades, music videos have done more than just accompany a song: they’ve shaped style, sparked conversations and helped build a fan base. This expansion gives millions of listeners access to a catalog of official music videos and also introduces new video formats like live performances and covers.”
However, the regions mentioned above are not the only ones that have access to music videos in the app. In addition to the US and Canada, the music videos will also expand to Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Uganda and Venezuela starting on December 9th. What’s even better is that these videos can be easily activated on any device.
When you start playing a song on Spotify on your mobile phone, computer or TV, you will have the option to press the ‘Go to video’ button. The music video begins where the song left off.
There’s no denying that expanding access to music videos is another step by Spotify to expand its services, but music videos on Spotify have actually cut the number of subscribers in half.
Spotify wants to be YouTube
Spotify is one of the best music streaming services for a number of reasons, but music videos aren’t exactly what many subscribers are excited about, and those concerns have existed since day one.
When Spotify first introduced music videos to the user experience, it generated a lot of commentary about the risks of not meeting certain expectations, with subscribers on the official website pleading: “Don’t screw it up like Instagram.” Spotify community forum. The other big thing that worries me the most is other services offering a better music video ecosystem.
For many music lovers, myself included, Spotify isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when I hear “music videos,” because let’s face it: YouTube has dominated the music video space for two decades and offers a smoother viewing experience. In most cases, Spotify music videos seem more confusing than useful.
Despite these concerns, many users welcome music video integration simply because they appreciate the ability to switch between streaming audio and video. But like it or not, Spotify is doubling down on its efforts to offer video to its subscribers, and I don’t think it’s the end yet.
What do you think of music videos on Spotify?