Here’s how to host a listening party with friends on Spotify

If you have a Sony Premium account, you can now host a listening party with up to five friends, regardless of where they live. Here’s what you need to know.

“In our latest innovation, we’re taking Group Session one step further with brand-new functionality that allows Spotify Premium users around the world to tune into the same playlist or podcast simultaneously.”

Spotify statement

Spotify listening party: What you need to know

Spotify Group Sessions (beta)

Spotify announced via its Newsroom that Premium members can now listen to music and podcasts with friends and family at the same time, even if all members of the party aren’t in the same location.

The new beta feature is called Group Session and available to all paying customers. Using the feature will generate a sharable link that can be sent to friends and family to join in the fun.

What does this mean for participants?

By clicking the link, they will be able to simultaneously stream content as the host. Anyone in the party can also pause, play, skip or select tracks in the host. Members can also add their own songs to the list.

Unfortunately, there’s no chat feature yet, unlike the Netflix House Party and Scener extensions. Members in the same Group Session will have to rely on third-party chat apps, such ss WhatsApp, Messenger or Telegram.

“Groups of two to five people can use this feature at once by sharing a ‘join’ link via messaging apps or social media with each other.”

How to host a listening session on Spotify

If you’re a Premium member, simply select the Connect menu in the bottom-left corner of the play screen. Then, scroll down to Start Group Session. Once that step has been complete, Spotify will generate a shareable link.

Simply send this link to your friends and they’d be able to join in on the fun. Spotify vows that it will on the feature and that it “will evovle” in due course.

Spotify disclaimer: Since Group Session is currently still in beta, you can expect the experience to continue to evolve over time. For now, get started with your first Group Session.

Spotify group session inspiration

If you need some inspiration for your remote listening party, Spotify has a few suggestions. You can host a virtual Country Cookout with your mom in Limpopo and your brother in the Western Cape.

Everyone will still be able to “jam out in real-time from each of your backyards while cooking up a storm”, Spotify says. “And if Mom’s getting carried away with the oldies, you can always change the track”.

How about setting up a Wind of Change podcast date for you and your long-distance boo. According to Spotify, nothing says romance like some light international espionage

You can also coordinate a morning-noon-night group jog with friends in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. Or wherever else you find yourselves. Just keep the same pace across time zones with a Power Run playlist.