Spotify is unveiling its own version of the live audio social network Clubhouse. Over the past few months, the invite-only iOS app has exploded and lets users host their own ‘rooms’, with guest moderators to discuss a vast range of topics, enabling audience to ask questions like a live group phone call. Latest guests have involved Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerburg and Spotify founder Daniel Ek. According to the Verge, Spotify has purchased a company called Betty Labs who create an app called Locker Room, which is similar to Clubhouse but for sports events.
Locker Room will stay as part of the iOS store as its own app at the moment, and any user can host rooms and discussions and Locker Room users aren’t required to use Spotify exclusively.
It reachs off the back of Twitter debut their own Spaces audio alternative to Clubhouse, while Instagram has added the capability to go live with four total accounts, rather than two. It’s not a huge surprise given Spotify’s swivel to podcasting over the past few years, with the Swedish company’s Chief R&D Officer Gustav Söderström telling The Verge people already recording their Clubhouse and Spaces converse to their podcasting app Anchor to host them on Spotify. According to reports, Facebook is also up to a live audio characteristic.
