Spotify is launching music videos in the U.S., Canada and a handful of other markets, following the feature’s launch in beta in overseas markets last year.
The videos, which are provided by music labels under new agreements, will be available only to paying subscribers on Spotify’s Premium plan, and can be streamed on its iOS, Android, desktop, and TV apps.
Users will start seeing a new option to “Switch to video” Spotify when they’re listening to a song. The video will then begin playing from where the song is currently — a change from how the earlier beta worked. Users can switch back to music-only by pressing “Switch to audio” at any time.
The videos can be played full-screen when the phone is in landscape orientation, the company says.
spotifyImage Credits:Spotify
After you make the switch, the music video will replace the short, looping video that typically accompanies tracks unless you disable the feature in the settings.
By the end of the month, Spotify will have video-specific playlists available for subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, like 90s Video Hits, Hip-Hop Throwbacks, Latin Party Hits, Country Hits, and Pop Music Video Hits. Users will also see personalized video recommendations on the app’s home screen.
Bringing music videos to the key U.S. market will help Spotify better compete with YouTube, which today offers its own music streaming service and has been moving into podcasts. Spotify has sought to fight the latter threat by adding support for video podcasts, as well as other social features like comments, Q&As, and polls, making the app feel more like a social network.
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News that Spotify’s music video feature would soon arrive in the U.S. was leaked last month, following the company’s deal with the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) in November. Under the expanded partnership, the streaming service launched an opt-in portal that allows NMPA members to enter a direct license agreement for audio-visual (AV) rights in the U.S. Spotify said the move would “increase revenue for songwriters and independent publishers,” as a result.
Spotify had forged other deals that included AV rights with Universal, Sony, and Warner Music Group throughout 2025.
The company declined to share how many total videos are included at launch, which labels are on board, or specifics of the deals. However, a spokesperson said that, similar to audio streams, music video streams of at least 30 seconds will be reported and bear royalties, consistent with agreements.
In addition to today’s expansion to the U.S. and Canada, Spotify is bringing music videos to Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Uganda and Venezuela.
A full list of beta markets is available on Spotify’s support site. In the beta markets of Brazil and Colombia, music videos are offered to listeners on the free tier, too.
