Spotify Rivals Clubhouse With New Audio Chatroom Feature

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Spotify is the latest tech company to launch an audio chatroom feature to compete against Clubhouse.

The rise of Clubhouse made it appear as if it could be the app of the future. The exclusive invite-only application blew up along with the viral moments that were produced out of the chat rooms. Meek Mill and Akademiks became trending topics for over 24 hours after a heated confrontation on the app.

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It was only a matter of time until more and more tech companies started implementing similar features. Twitter launched a test-version of this feature but even LinkedIn and Facebook are testing the waters with the audio chat rooms. 

According to The Verge, Spotify has now acquired Betty Labs, the company that's responsible for Locker Room -- a live sports audio app. Though the streaming service hasn't disclosed how much they paid, the decision to bring this feature to their platform is meant to bring artists closer to their audience. This can be for discussions, performances, or even album premieres.

The feature won't solely be available to Spotify-approved curators but anyone who would like to host a chat. It makes this feature now makes Spotify in direct competition to Clubhouse but also apps like Twitter Spaces and Discord. There's also a possibility that curators may also be able to monetize on these audio rooms.

How do you feel about Spotify's new audio rooms? Sound off in the comments with your thoughts. 


About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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