This could be a big addition for WhatsApp, considering the engagement that music drives on other apps.
Over the last few months, WhatsApp has been working on an updated music sharing process, which will enable an improved, custom display of songs within WhatsApp status. And according to the latest reports from WABetaInfo and Android Police, it’s now getting close to launching this updated functionality.
As you can see in these images, the refreshed music sharing process for WhatsApp Status (its version of Stories) will look similar to music sharing on Instagram, with an updated album art display when you share Spotify links.
As per Android Police:
“Sharing to WhatsApp Status Updates will generate a preview of the song/album’s cover art, complete with the song and artist(s)’ names. Similar to sharing on Instagram, users will have four background color customization options — sampled from the cover art’s dominant colors. The viewers, on the other hand, will see a ‘Play on Spotify’ option when they look at your Status Update.”
So why is that such a big deal?
As noted, Meta’s been looking to add more music elements, on Instagram in particular, in order to tap into the engagement that music has been driving on TikTok, which is still under threat in the U.S.
With TikTok’s future up in the air, Meta’s been looking to build more music-related tools, like songs on IG profiles, “Add Yours” music stickers, music in Notes, song lyric displays in Reels, a music sharing sticker for DMs, and more.
That could make IG a more viable replacement for music engagement if TikTok does go away, and building similar on WhatsApp could also have similar value, in many more regions.
WhatsApp is the most popular messaging app in the world, and has been gaining momentum in the U.S. With that in mind, this is another way for Meta to tap into the engagement and interaction around music in its apps, which could help it fend off competition from TikTok, and/or act as a replacement, in case TikTok does disappear.
And even if it doesn’t, it’s another potential lure for Meta to use to promote its apps as key community connection tools for musicians.
As such, while may not be a major functional change, it does serve a larger purpose, and could be a valuable addition.
The updated music sharing sticker for WhatsApp hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it looks to be close to launch.
