In the streaming service's broadest market expansion to date, Spotify is embarking on a sweeping expansion that will introduce the audio streaming subscription service to Zimbabwe and 84 other new markets
Apple Music and a couple of other music streaming services are already operating in Zimbabwe.
By working closely with local creators and partners, Spotify aims to expand its music offerings and deliver an experience that meets the unique needs of the Zimbabwean market, with scaled language translations and specialized payment formats like EcoCash and OneMoney.
By working closely with local creators and partners, Spotify aims to expand its music offerings and deliver an experience that meets the unique needs of the Zimbabwean market, with scaled language translations and specialized payment formats like EcoCash and OneMoney.
In 2019, howmuch.net reported Zimbabwe pays the highest price both in Africa and in the world for mobile internet data packages needed to stream music online. Spotify hopes to overcome streaming concerns by offering data-light functions and offline premium subscriptions.
User Experience: Listeners will be able to select and search from Spotify’s worldwide catalog when using the product, providing a personalized experience from day one. The home screen will surface personalized playlist programming for new listeners. The browse and search pages will feature worldwide content hubs, and adapt to the local market and the listener’s taste the more they use the service.
Music Catalog: At launch, Spotify will offer its full global catalog in these new markets. The company will continuously work with local rights holders and partners to expand its catalog to include more local offerings.
Podcasts: In the majority of these markets, Spotify will launch with its full podcast catalog.* For the others, it will work closely with local partners to introduce more podcasts from its catalog, as well as Spotify’s proprietary creator platform, Anchor.
Platforms: Upon launch, the Spotify experience will be available on Mobile and Desktop Web Player.* Similar to other features, the company will work with partners to introduce Spotify on more platforms, including TV, Speakers, Wearables, and Car in the coming months.
Over time, the company aims to introduce the following offerings:
Plans: Free and Premium plans will be available across all the markets. In select markets, Spotify will offer Individual, Family, Duo, and Student Plan options.
User Experience: Listeners will be able to select and search from Spotify’s worldwide catalog when using the product, providing a personalized experience from day one. The home screen will surface personalized playlist programming for new listeners. The browse and search pages will feature worldwide content hubs, and adapt to the local market and the listener’s taste the more they use the service.
Music Catalog: At launch, Spotify will offer its full global catalog in these new markets. The company will continuously work with local rights holders and partners to expand its catalog to include more local offerings.
Podcasts: In the majority of these markets, Spotify will launch with its full podcast catalog.* For the others, it will work closely with local partners to introduce more podcasts from its catalog, as well as Spotify’s proprietary creator platform, Anchor.
Platforms: Upon launch, the Spotify experience will be available on Mobile and Desktop Web Player.* Similar to other features, the company will work with partners to introduce Spotify on more platforms, including TV, Speakers, Wearables, and Car in the coming months.
Spotify will also be launching in other African countries below
Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
With an already competitive market and barriers to internet accessibility, Spotify will hope that listeners tune in.