Spotify announced a new feature on Wednesday that allows listeners to save and share memorable moments from podcast episodes.
You can save a full episode, a timestamp, a chapter or a clip and share with friends on Spotify or other supported social media apps. You'll be able to edit the clips directly in the app, and Spotify saves them in your Spotify library and podcast playlist.
Spotify says the podcast clips feature is already rolling out globally to free and premium users on mobile, with availability expanding across more shows over time. I didn't see the feature yet in my Spotify account as of Wednesday afternoon. Spotify didn't state which podcasts offer the clipping feature, though it apparently isn't available for all shows.
A Spotify representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
How to save and share
To create a clip, click the scissor icon while the podcast is playing. When you're ready to share, the episode will appear as a video editor, so you can trim it to fit the clip you want. Once you edit it to your liking, you can hit save or share. When you hit share, you'll see more share options and can pick the format you want, whether it's a chapter, the full episode, a timestamp or a clip.
Spotify added the clips feature after the success of another feature, Chapters, earlier this year. Chapters targets Spotify users with podcast episodes they may find interesting, increasing the likelihood they will begin listening to a specific podcast. According to a Spotify substack, the music streaming service saw the number of people using Chapters triple over just a few months.
Short-form clips are key to dominating the social media algorithm. According to The Verge, clipping is a common marketing tactic employed by agencies or contractors. "Clippers" on social media edit long-form content from podcasts, TV shows and other forms of entertainment into short bites they hope will go viral across various platforms. But clipping is controversial. Clipping doesn't require permission from the actual creators, so clippers can make money off content that isn't their own.
Spotify recently introduced other new features. A Peloton partnership connects Spotify customers to workout playlists and videos created by the popular fitness brand and other wellness creators. Another new feature narrates long-form magazine articles.
