Spotify is testing a new feature that would allow users to pre-save albums in the days and weeks prior to their release, the company tells Billboard.
The test launched with Florence + the Machine’s forthcoming album Dance Fever, slated for release May 13. When navigating to the band’s official profile on the Spotify iOS mobile app, users who click “upcoming releases” will find a dedicated page for the album that includes a “pre-save” button, a countdown clock to the album’s release, cover artwork, a track list preview and exclusive clips featuring singer Florence Welch; users are also able to share a direct link to the pre-save page. Once Dance Fever is released, those who pre-saved it on the app will receive an alert that the album is now available on Spotify.
In a statement, a Spotify spokesperson confirmed that the company is only experimenting with the feature for now. It will be running additional tests soon.
“Spotify is testing a new pre-release experience,” the spokesperson said. “We routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve artist and fan experiences. Some of those tests end up paving the way for a broader experience and others serve only as an important learning.”
Spotify is just the latest major music streaming platform to introduce a pre-save feature, which provides additional data to the label and streaming service and can help support editorial playlisting when the music is released. Apple Music and Tidal both launched pre-saves in 2018, while YouTube Music introduced them in 2020. Amazon Music does not currently offer pre-saves.
Currently, Spotify’s pre-save test is only available on the streamer’s iOS mobile app, though there are plans to expand it to Android. The feature is not yet available on desktop.
Though artists were previously able to mount pre-save campaigns using tools offered by their labels or distributors, this is the first time the feature has been available directly on Spotify. The company tells Billboard that its industry partners have long been requesting pre-save functionality on the app.
