Snapchat takes on TikTok with music feature that lets users add popular songs to snaps
- Snapchat is set to let users add popular songs to snaps in the app
- The firm has partnered with a number of music labels to create a music catalog
- The feature will let users swipe up to see the album art, song title and artist
- The news comes as the US government is looking to ban the use of TikTok
As the US looks to ban TikTok, Snapchat is making moves that could replace it.
Users will soon have the ability to add popular songs to snaps from the firms ‘robust’ catalog of music, which stems from a number of deals with industry partners like Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group.
When looking at a snap with music, users can swipe up to see the album art, song title and artist name.
There is also a ‘Play This Song’ option that opens a webview to Linkfire so you can listen to the full song on your favorite streaming platform like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud.
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Users will soon have the ability to add popular songs to snaps from the firms ‘robust’ catalog of music. When looking at a snap with music, users can swipe up to see the album art, song title and artist name
A Snap spokesperson said: ‘We’re constantly building on our relationships within the music industry, and making sure the entire music ecosystem (artists, labels, songwriters, publishers and streaming services) are seeing value in our partnerships.’
The new feature is set to roll out to this fall in the US as well as Canada and Australia.
‘Snapchat is designed to be a communication tool for close friends, and there is tremendous value in friend-to-friend music recommendations,’ the firm shared in a statement.
‘Snapchatters will be able to form an even deeper connection to the artists and songs they love, both on and off platform.’
Although users will be able to connect to the full song in their player, there is not an option to see videos featuring the same song – a key feature offered by TikTok. However, Snap has formed partnerships with music companies to provide songs in the app
Although users will be able to connect to the full song in their player, there is not an option to see videos featuring the same song – a key feature offered by TikTok.
However, Snap has formed partnerships with Warner Music Group, Universal Music Publishing Group, Merlin and others to develop a ‘robust and curated catalogue of music.
The news comes as US President Donald Trump threatens to ban TikTok in the US.
‘As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States’ he told reporters on Air Force One as he returned from Florida.
‘Well, I have that authority. I can do it with an executive order or that [emergency economic powers].’
The president also made clear he did not support an American company to purchase TikTok’s U.S. operations after an earlier report claimed Microsoft was ‘in talks’ to acquire the platform.
The new Snapchat feature is set to roll out to this fall in the US as well as Canada and Australia.
Sources told The New York Times on Friday that a deal was in the works, but it was unclear where the two firms stood.
At the same time, reports had claimed Trump was planning to order TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance to give up ownership of the platform.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters the White House, ByteDance and potential buyers of TikTok, including Microsoft failed to produce a deal that would result in the Chinese company shedding the app’s U.S. operations.
The talks are expected to continue in the coming days.