Spotify signalled some time ago that it was winding down its “App Finder” feature for third-party apps within its desktop software. Now it’s removing the section altogether, while adding one of its most popular apps – Musixmatch’s lyrics – as a core feature.
The new version of the desktop client is rolling out from today, with no App Finder. But while playing songs, Spotify users will now be able to click a Lyrics button on the play bar to pull up lyrics from Musixmatch’s database.
Spotify is comparing the new feature to its integration of Songkick’s concert listings – Songkick was another popular install from the App Finder. The company’s work with developers is now focusing more on external apps and services that tie in to its API: BBC Playlister being one prominent example.
App Finder sorted its apps by popularity, and Musixmatch was top of the list, ahead of rival lyrics service TuneWiki, for whom today’s news is thus not so positive. Browsing that chart, it’s notable that editorial apps – Pitchfork, Guardian Music and NME – were also in the top 10. Perhaps that points to another gap for Spotify to fill in its software in the months ahead.
Also new in the updated desktop client – which some users will get today, and others in the coming weeks – is a tweaked Friend Feed which makes it more obvious what playlists, songs and artists a user’s friends are listening to. There will also be daily viral charts and play-counts based on local regions.
Spotify’s charts will now also “feature indicators to highlight new music and how tracks are performing day by day” – a small but interesting change that will make the service much more of a real-time tracker for trending music.
Spotify isn’t the first streaming service to add lyrics to its desktop client. Deezer added a similar feature in December 2014, working with LyricFind as its licensed partner.
What about bringing lyrics to Spotify’s mobile apps? There’s no news on that score, although the company points out that owners of Android devices can use Musixmatch’s Android app’s “floating lyrics” feature with Spotify. It seems logical that lyrics will come to Spotify’s mobile apps sooner rather than later, though.
Here’s a demo of the desktop version:
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