Spotify just took a big step into the world of family entertainment.
Following a big push into podcasts with the purchase of Anchor FM — which hosts the Adventure Media & Events Podcast Network — the leader in streaming audio is going after kids with the ad-free Spotify Kids app. The company says it’s looking to embrace “the next generation of listeners,” and it’s doing it with a robust content lineup featuring audio from Disney, Nickelodeon, Discovery Kids, BookBeat, and more. Following the beta launch, the curated app will roll out to all markets that offer Spotify Premium Family subscriptions.
“Having a standalone app specifically for younger kids is a new space for Spotify, and we understand the sensitivities around content for children,” says Alex Norström, Spotify’s chief premium business officer. “We are being very deliberate in our launch approach. We’ve started with a beta launch in Ireland, knowing that this initial roll-out phase will yield many learnings from parents, caregivers, and other experts as they begin to interact with the app.”
Norström also says that the company is exploring listening options that go beyond music, including “more stories and audiobooks, and eventually podcasts.”
In developing the app, Spotify consulted with experts at the National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C., and conducted its own studies and focus groups to gauge feedback from parents.
