In a move that benefits content creators and businesses alike, Spotify has rolled out a major update to its tvOS app for Apple TV devices.
The redesigned app, described as “rebuilt from the ground up for a faster, smarter, more visual experience,” now supports video podcasts and music videos — features that were previously missing from the big‑screen experience.
What’s new for creators and viewers
Video podcast support means that audiences can now watch full‑screen podcast episodes (with video) directly on their TV sets. Playback speed adjustment is included as part of this feature set.
For businesses and creators who publish podcast content, this opens up an additional distribution channel: instead of audio only, you can now optimize for living‑room screens and harness the visual element.
Music videos are also rolling out — in markets outside the U.S. and Canada (so far 97 markets) users with Premium access can tap a “switch to video” prompt when a track has a video version.
While U.S. and Canada users might wait a bit longer, this signals that Spotify is leaning into visual‑audio convergence, which matters for brands and creators seeking more immersive media formats.
Enhanced features for smoother production and publishing
The update brings mobile features over to tvOS: song lyrics displayed on‑screen (which can help with engagement and accessibility), smarter queue management, seamless playback control via smartphone or tablet through Spotify Connect, and an AI‑powered “Spotify DJ” recommendation engine.
For creators and brands, these enhancements mean less friction in distributing content, more ways for viewers to engage (e.g., following along with lyrics), and better consistency across devices.
Why this matters
For small business owners, coaches and educators using audio or video content as part of their marketing or educational efforts, this update means:
- Your podcast or video content may now reach living‑room audiences in addition to mobile viewers.
- If you include a visual element (e.g., talking head, presentation visuals), you might tap higher engagement by optimizing for TV screen formats.
- With built‑in features like lyrics display and queue control, your viewers’ experience is smoother — fewer barriers means more consistent consumption.
Bottom line
Spotify’s tvOS update lowers the barrier to creating and distributing video‑enabled audio content on TV screens.
Whether you’re building a podcast to promote your business, repurposing audio into video for home‑screen viewing, or leveraging music videos as part of brand storytelling, this move signals a useful shift toward multi‑screen, multi‑format publishing.
For creators intent on scaling storytelling and reducing friction in their workflows, this is a development worth exploring.
