Spotify is an online music streaming service. Users can also listen to podcasts and audiobooks. It uses a “freemium” platform where users can utilize the service for free with ads or pay a monthly subscription for an ad-free experience.
The website includes a library of over 100 million songs and 6 million podcasts. This large database of audio experiences drastically increases Spotify’s intended audience. Most people listen to music and have specific genres they enjoy more than others. Spotify allows users to choose what type of music they want to listen to, without ever interacting with music they do not want to hear. Podcasts are also an expanding industry that spans almost any topic one can think of. While most people listen to some form of music, others don’t and can instead focus on podcasts offered through the website. Spotify’s endless possibilities of audio content make its intended audience almost any person who is hearing, as they have the option to listen to whatever they like without limitation. The intended purpose of Spotify is to provide entertainment, as well as knowledge, particularly if one is listening to an educational podcast.
The overall content design of the website is simple but sleek. The dark background provides a modern and clean feel while allowing the colorful album covers and artist profile pictures to stand out. Interactivity with the website is easy and allows users to see what they are looking for. The text is in a large font that is easy to read. Navigation throughout the website is also basic for those who may be unfamiliar with online databases. The user scrolls up and down to see more content. There is also a sidebar navigation panel to the left of the screen that shows recently played content and user playlists. The basic version of the website gives users a taste of the large amount of content Spotify has to offer, and a colorful bar at the bottom of the screen informs users that they must create an account to use the features for free with occasional ads. When a user creates an account and starts listening to audio content, the website becomes more tailored to individual users: recommending similar songs or artists based on previous listening. Providing unique experiences for each user increases audience awareness and positive interactions with the website. Without signing in, the website layout offers the most popular artists and albums at the top of the page to entice users into wanting to listen.
Overall, Spotify provides a simple and elegant website layout that enhances the listening experience of any user who wishes to have a seamless and personalized experience.
