Spotify wants to expand its services to include distance learning. This is because the streaming platform will release course videos in the United Kingdom. The initiative, in partnership with organizations such as the BBC and Skillshare, will offer two free classes – and full courses will cost between £20 and £80 (R$126 to R$504). The price will be the same for “basic” users and platform subscribers.
For those in a hurry:
- Spotify plans to add distance learning to its platform. Streaming will make course videos available in the United Kingdom (for now), in partnership with institutions such as the BBC and Skillshare;
- The initiative will be tested to assess user interest, with courses available in the app’s home and navigation tabs, accessible on tablets, cell phones and computers;
- Spotify’s educational offering will cover a variety of topics, competing with platforms such as YouTube, MasterClass and LinkedIn Learning. But the offer will focus on on-demand videos without initial interactivity;
- The strategy includes limited supplementary material without real-time interaction. And the courses will be licensed and hosted on the platform, curated based on user preferences.
Mohit Jitani, product director for Spotify’s new educational segment in London, explained that the pricing strategy is part of a test to understand user interest, as published by TechCrunch. The objective is to assess receptivity before defining how the service will be structured and priced more broadly.
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Courses on Spotify
Spotify courses will be available in the app’s home and navigation tabs, accessible both from the computer and in the app for cell phones and tablets. The platform positions its educational offering among options such as YouTube, MasterClass and LinkedIn Learning, covering a variety of topics ranging from music production to Excel skills.
The distance education market is on the rise, estimated at more than US$315 billion (R$1.6 trillion) in 2023. Despite competition from several online learning platforms, Spotify’s proposal focuses on videos on demand , with no initial focus on interactivity or gamification.
The courses offered will include supplementary material, but are currently limited to additional documents, with no provision for exams or other forms of interaction. Spotify has not commented on future implementations of interactive features.
The initiative’s first partners will provide content ranging from creative courses to online education training programs. The curation of courses by Spotify will be based on user preferences and searches on the platform. Course videos, licensed to Spotify, will be hosted and sold directly on the platform.
