Spotify is launching music videos in the U.S., Canada, and a handful of other markets, following the feature’s beta launch in overseas markets last year. The videos, which are provided to the streamer by the labels under new agreements, will be available only to paid subscribers on Spotify’s Premium plan and will stream across iOS, Android, desktop, and TV devices.
To view a song’s music video, users will see a new option to “Switch to video” in their app. The video will then begin playing right where the song left off — which is a change from how the earlier beta worked.
At any time, the user can switch back to background audio listening by pressing “Switch to audio.”
After you make the switch, the music video will replace the short, looping video that typically accompanies the track.
The videos will also support a full-screen experience when the phone is in landscape mode, the company says.
By the end of the month, Spotify will have video-specific playlists available for subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, such as 90s Video Hits, Hip-Hop Throwbacks, Latin Party Hits, Country Hits, Pop Music Video Hits, and more. Users will also see personalized video recommendations on the Home screen of the app.
The expansion of music videos to the key U.S. market will help the service better compete with YouTube, which today offers its own music streaming service and has been moving into podcasts. Spotify has combatted the latter threat by adding support for video podcasts, as well as other social features like podcast comments, Q&As, and polls, making the app feel more like a social network.
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News that Spotify’s music video feature would soon arrive in the U.S. was leaked last month, following Spotify’s November deal with the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA). Under the expanded partnership for audiovisual rights, the streamer launched an opt-in portal that allows NMPA members to enter a direct license agreement for AV rights in the U.S. Spotify said the move would “increase revenue for songwriters and independent publishers,” as a result.
Spotify had forged other deals that included AV rights with Universal, Sony, and Warner Music Group throughout 2025.
The company declined to share how many total videos are included at launch, which labels are on board, or deal specifics. However, a spokesperson said that, similar to audio streams, music video streams of at least 30 seconds will be reported and royalty-bearing, consistent with agreements.
In addition to today’s expansion to the U.S. and Canada, Spotify is bringing music videos to Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Uganda, and Venezuela.
A full list of beta markets is available on Spotify’s support site. In the beta markets of Brazil and Colombia, they are offered to free listeners.