Spotify may be making a karaoke comeback with real-time lyrics
Hitting the high notes
Spotify might be about to inject some karaoke chaos into its app, if a new feature in testing eventually rolls out to the masses.
Users with the Spotify beta Android version 8.5.46.848 have told Android Police that they are now seeing lyrics appear in real-time alongside songs they are playing.
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However, with the feature not currently visible to all users, it appears to be a new trick that Spotify is merely testing for the time being.
Musixmatch returns
In fact, to call it a new feature would be only a half truth – this is more like an encore for the app. It appears that Spotify has revitalised its partnership with lyric-serving service Musixmatch, which Spotify had previously teamed up with to deliver lyrics until 2016.
In a statement, Spotify said:
"At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience. Some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning. We don't have any further news to share at this time."
If the feature is to roll out wider, not only would it restore a much-missed option to Spotify, but would put it on a par with Apple Music, which has been offering lyrics alongside songs to its listeners since September 2019.
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Gerald is Editor-in-Chief of iMore.com. Previously he was the Executive Editor for TechRadar, taking care of the site's home cinema, gaming, smart home, entertainment and audio output. He loves gaming, but don't expect him to play with you unless your console is hooked up to a 4K HDR screen and a 7.1 surround system. Before TechRadar, Gerald was Editor of Gizmodo UK. He is also the author of 'Get Technology: Upgrade Your Future', published by Aurum Press.