Spotify's dark new design finally lets you build a personal music library

Spotify's new design goes to the dark side
Consider us seduced

Spotify has kept a pretty consistent design since its launch in 2008, but today the music service has revealed a darker new look across its desktop, web and mobile apps - and we rather like it.

Spotify says its new design took inspiration in the cinema of all places; the dark theme is designed to let album artwork "pop" a lot better than before, while background blurring and a new typeface make everything more enticing.

But it's not all about the cosmetics. A new feature called Your Music lets you save songs and albums to your own personal collection instead of just adding them to playlists, mirroring the feeling of a CD or MP3 collection.

Spotify's also improved the Browse feature, promising that it'll now deliver "more relevant and localised content".

Paint it black

The new look is consistent across devices, with artist photos appearing in circles and album artwork in squares.

The new design will be available for iPhone, desktop and browser users today, with Android following soon.

With Rdio, Pandora, iTunes Radio providing stiff competition, and whispers of other on-demand services coming from Apple and YouTube, Spotify needs to do everything it can to stay top of its game.

YouTube's music streaming service is rumoured to be rolling out later this year and would be Google's second attack on the music market - Google Play being the first.

Hugh Langley

Hugh Langley is the ex-News Editor of TechRadar. He had written for many magazines and websites including Business Insider, The Telegraph, IGN, Gizmodo, Entrepreneur Magazine, WIRED (UK), TrustedReviews, Business Insider Australia, Business Insider India, Business Insider Singapore, Wareable, The Ambient and more.

Hugh is now a correspondent at Business Insider covering Google and Alphabet, and has the unfortunate distinction of accidentally linking the TechRadar homepage to a rival publication.

Latest in Spotify
Spotify's new Concerts Near You playlist feature showing a list of songs by local touring artists
Spotify has launched a new Concerts Near You playlist, making it easier for you to see if your favorite artists are performing in your area
Spotify AI DJ on a phone being held in a hand
Hey AI DJ, put a record on: Spotify seems set to let you speak to its AI DJ
Lady Gaga sat at a press conference table for Spotify's fan event
Spotify’s press conference with Lady Gaga shows that music streaming services really do think about the fans after all
Woman holding phone in field with Spotify app onscreen
The Spotify bug that shows ads to Premium subscribers has finally been fixed - for now at least
A screen shot of Lady Gaga in her interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music
Lady Gaga’s Spotify press conference is being live streamed today – here’s where you can watch Spotify’s big step forward in fan inclusion
Spotify logo on a mobile device
Had Spotify problems recently? It's clamped down on Premium APK 'modded' apps – here's what's happening
Latest in News
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
Samsung's rumored smart specs may be launching before the end of 2025
Apple iPhone 16 Review
The latest iPhone 18 leak hints at a major chipset upgrade for all four models
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 24 (game #1155)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 24 (game #386)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 24 (game #652)
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 23 (game #1154)