Spotify’s Latest Update Proves They’ve Lost Touch With What Users Really Want

Spotify's new Instagram integration lets you add songs into your playlists.
Spotify’s new Instagram integration lets you add songs into your playlists.

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The real problem with Spotify’s newest feature isn’t what it adds, but what it ignores.

Spotify’s latest Instagram integration seems like a step forward in simplifying music discovery. But for millions of frustrated users battling clunky playlists and vanishing features, it feels more like a distraction.

What Spotify’s Instagram Integration Is All About

Spotify’s new collaboration with Instagram lets users add songs from Instagram posts, stories, and reels directly to their Spotify library. It’s quick and easy and mirrors similar features already available on TikTok.

To use this feature, users must first link their Spotify accounts with Instagram. Once connected, songs can be added directly to the “Liked Songs” playlist without even leaving the app.

How to save songs from Instagram to Spotify.
How to save songs from Instagram to Spotify.

It sounds useful, but does it make the Spotify experience better? That remains to be seen.

As mentioned, this feature isn’t new. TikTok beat Spotify and Instagram to the punch over a year ago. And they did it better, too.

TikTok’s “Add to Music App” functionality works not only with Spotify, but also with other streaming services like Apple Music, and Amazon Music, making it more versatile.

On the other hand, Spotify integration with Instagram focuses solely on its own platform. While convenient for discovering and saving tracks within the Instagram environment, it doesn’t provide much beyond what TikTok already offers.

So, even though everyone seems to oversell this new feature, essentially, it’s more like a minor tweak than a big upgrade.

Admittedly, the new feature is convenient if you hear a catchy song while scrolling. I can’t count the times I’ve heard a good song and had to go through the multi-step process of Shazam-ing it to add it to my music library.

Let’s be honest, though. It feels like Spotify is just trying to keep up. Sure, it’s a nice feature. But it will not fix the bigger problems users actually care about.

A Strategy That Ignores User Concerns

Spotify teaming up with Instagram looks great on paper. It’s all about growing bigger, reaching more people, and staying in the game. Makes sense from a business perspective, right?

But, while Spotify’s busy making friends with the cool kids, they’re ghosting their actual users.

People have been petitioning to bring back the heart button ever since it was removed and continue to do so. (From: Spotify Community)
People have been petitioning to bring back the heart button ever since it was removed and continue to do so. (From: Spotify Community)

Over the years, Spotify has introduced changes that have left many users frustrated.

For example, remember the heart button? That simple, satisfying way to quickly save songs you loved? Just last year, Spotify decided we didn’t need that anymore. And we have been complaining and petitioning for Spotify to bring it back ever since then.

If you’re not aware, the heart button is the quickest way to add songs to the “Liked” playlists. It also works the same way as Apple Music’s “favorite” button, which lets you easily identify the songs you really like.

You can also ask any long-time user about organizing their playlists now, and you’ll probably hear a long story about how they’ve given up trying to keep their music collection tidy.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Scroll through any Spotify community forum and you’ll find a laundry list of complaints:

Instead of tackling these issues head-on, Spotify’s throwing shiny new features at us like they’re trying to distract a toddler with keys. Sure, saving songs from Instagram is neat, but it’s like putting a fresh coat of paint on a house with a leaky roof.

Just last week, I spent 20 minutes trying to organize and rearrange songs in my playlist (something that used to take seconds). But, the ‘Save’ button isn’t clickable!

This has been reported by multiple users and Spotify said they’ll be fixing this. But, at the time of writing, it still hasn’t been fixed.

Meanwhile, we’re given a new feature that save tracks from my friend’s Instagram story. Talk about missing the point.

The result? A growing number of loyal users are feeling like background noise in Spotify’s grand plans. These aren’t just casual listeners, either. We’re talking about the people who’ve been building playlists and discovering new artists on the platform for years.

What Users Want and Why It Matters

Spotify users are clear about what they want: to be listened to. And no, not through another feedback survey that disappears into the void.

Despite the new Instagram integration, long-standing issues still need to be solved. Many users are frustrated because their feedback on these core problems has gone unaddressed.

For example, users have been asking for better tools to organize their music, but Spotify’s current system still feels limiting, especially for those with large collections. The rise in subscription prices is another issue, with features like lyrics paywalled (which they then revoked).

Lastly, Spotify’s hyperfocus on podcasts and audiobooks has left some core music fans feeling neglected, as promises like Hi-Fi audio remain unfulfilled. Users want the platform to prioritize improving their music experience instead of expanding into non-music content.

In contrast, Spotify’s competitors have taken a more user-centric approach to their updates.

Apple Music, for instance, continues to maintain intuitive features like the “favorite” button and offers lossless audio without additional charges. YouTube Music, on the other hand, just added a bunch of new features based on user feedback, such as a sleep timer, custom thumbnails, badges, and voting.

Sleep Timer on YouTube Music. Spotify used to have this feature, but now I can't find it anywhere. What happened?
Sleep Timer on YouTube Music. Spotify used to have this feature, but now I can’t find it anywhere. What happened?

Even better? These platforms aren’t just throwing features at the wall to see what sticks. They’re building on their core strength: being a great place to enjoy music.

Sure, the new Instagram integration is cool. But you know what would be cooler? Actually fixing the stuff we’ve been talking about for years.

The solution isn’t rocket science. Instead of chasing every social media trend, Spotify needs to get back to basics. Because at the end of the day, all these flashy features won’t matter if your core experience feels like users need a PHD and a ton of patience to work.

Users don’t need more bells and whistles. They need a music platform that puts their listening experience first.

After all, happy users are loyal users. And right now, that loyalty is being tested with every new feature that doesn’t address the basics.

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