Instagram adds new MySpace-esque music feature

23 August, 2024

Instagram. Credit - Jaque Silva

Instagram is adding a new music feature where you can show off your taste on your profile, reminiscent of 2000s MySpace.

In what feels like a blast from the past – where you’d be able to hear your friend’s favourite song playing every time you went on their MySpace profile – Instagram is making music a more central feature. “Now you can brag about your music taste by adding a song to your profile,” Instagram writes on a social media announcement.

Songs can already be added to stories, and more recently to posts, but this update will mean music can be added straight to your profile without the need to post anything new.

To add music to your profile, navigate to your profile settings and select “Add music to your profile.” From there, you can either search for songs or explore the “For You” section.

Once you’ve chosen a track, you’ll have the option to feature a specific 30-second snippet on your profile. This snippet will stay until you decide to update it

However, unlike Myspace, the songs won’t play automatically. Visitors to a user’s profile will have the option to play or pause the added song whenever they choose.

Social media users have been reacting to this news on Twitter. “myspace has returned, nature is healing,” one user said.

Another added: “Anyone hating on the music feature for instagram’s profiles just means you hated MySpace. Idk but I’m excited. Bring back top 10 friends too so we can start making shit messy.”

However, some people are less happy with the added music features on the app. “Instagram so fucking loud rn yall pictures do not need music gang,” one person said.

Earlier this month Universal Music Group (UMG) revealed an expanded Meta licensing deal, with one of the pledges being that artists get compensated fairly.

It also wants to address unauthorized AI-generated content that could affect artists and songwriters.

According to The Verge, Instagram is launching the feature in collaboration with pop star Sabrina Carpenter. Carpenter’s official Instagram profile had a teaser of ‘Taste’ from her now-released album before the official drop of the track.

Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Taste’ is now out, and it is accompanied by a music video starring Jenna Ortega.

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