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Spotify Announces Music Apps

By Mathew Katz | December 1, 2011 9:28am

MANHATTAN — Online music service Spotify announced Wednesday that it would launch apps on its signature music-streaming service, allowing users to integrate their music listening experience with other publications and online services.

The new apps will allow users to get music recommendations and playlists from publications like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, look up lyrics for the song they're listening to in real-time, and share their musical tastes with friends. The service launched a preview of 12 free apps at a press conference Wednesday, and revealed that it's is opening up as a platform for developers to make hundreds more.

"More than anything we really look forward to being surprised by our developers," said Spotify CEO and co-founder Daniel Ek at the company's first US-based press conference. "We believe they will deliver amazing new apps within the Spotify platform."

Founded in Sweden and currently based out of the United Kingdom, Spotify launched its music-streaming service in the United States over the summer, establishing an office in Chelsea. It allows users to stream thousands of songs and albums from their computers and smartphones, sprinkling in advertisements for free users, or ad-free for a monthly fee.

With 10 million active users, the service has quickly become the second-most-used music program in the world, after iTunes, and has made a name for itself in the U.S. through its integration with Facebook, allowing users to share what they're listening to with all their Facebook friends.

"We think Spotify is like a jukebox," said Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner, "We're excited to provide essential playlists for some of the greatest music ever."

Spotify expects several new apps made by major partners to launch within the next few weeks, and will allow anyone to build one — though the service will have a final say over what apps make will make the cut.