At a New York event today, Spotify has announced new updates to its platform that it hopes will fend off competition from music streaming rivals. Spotify Running represents one area where it's looking to differentiate. It will tune your music to your current running tempo, based on your listening history, multiple-genre playlists as well as original compositions from DJs and composers to help keep your motivation levels up as you're out pounding the pavement. Spotify brought out Tiesto at its event, so no doubt he will be bringing music to the service. Spotify is partnering with Nike by integrating Spotify Running into the Nike+ app. RunKeeper support is also expected later in the year.
Spotify is also diversifying with video content for the first time. While other services, such as Tidal and Deezer, have already started introducing exclusive video, Spotify was beginning to lag behind. This will be through partnerships with media organisations such as BBC, Comedy Central, ESPN, Ted and Vice, among others. Podcasts will also finally come to Spotify as the company hopes to be your central entertainment hub, removing the need for you to jump between apps. Spotify will also be working with entertainment partners for its own original content.
Spotify Now rounds out the updates, which brings music recommendations based on the time of day, much like Songza's integration into Google Play Music. The song recommendations will be a combination of your learned listening tastes as well as music curated by Spotify. Updated iPhone apps are rolling out in the UK, US, Germany and Sweden from today, with other platforms and locations to follow.
