New Spotify feature lets you send songs directly to friends

Spotify has rolled out a new feature in Kenya that lets users share songs and podcasts directly within the app.

The feature, dubbed ‘Messages,’ offers an in-app chat designed for swapping audio content with friends, bringing recommendations and conversations under one roof.

Rolling out this week to both Free and Premium listeners, ‘Messages’ aims to make music and podcast sharing faster, more personal, and easier to find.

“Here, discovery starts with a friend: a Gengetone earworm in a matatu, a true-crime episode your cousin won’t stop talking about,” Spotify said in a press release, noting that Kenyans already share millions of Spotify links every month. “Now those moments live in one place.”

From the ‘Now Playing’ screen, users can tap ‘Share,’ select a friend they’ve interacted with on Spotify, and send the track or podcast directly.

The chats are one-on-one and support text and emoji reactions. The new ‘Messages’ icon can be accessed by tapping a profile photo in the top-left corner of the app.

Spotify will also suggest contacts based on previous collaborations, such as shared playlists, Blends, Jams, or Family and Duo plans.

For artists and podcasters, Spotify says this opens new doors for discovery: “A single recommendation can spark a new fan, a packed show, or a book club pick—word of mouth at digital speed.”

Users can still share content externally to WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or Facebook, but Spotify hopes this internal feature will make everyday recommendations “smoother inside the app.”

The company emphasized that users remain in full control: they can block users, ignore requests, or report inappropriate content. Conversations are secured with industry-standard encryption, and the platform uses proactive detection to flag unlawful or harmful material.

“In Kenya, recommendations are social currency. Messages brings that local energy into Spotify so the right track, pod, or chapter gets to the right person faster,” said Phiona Okumu, Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa.