TIYA, a Clubhouse-like social audio networking platform has launched what it calls a “new and integrated Spotify function”.
Available in the US Market since October 2020, TIYA is a subsidiary of LIZHI, a China-born, NASDAQ-listed company that focuses on audio-based social apps.
LIZHI was founded by Chinese tech entrepreneur Marco Lai and launched its flagship platform LIZHI App in 2013.
According to LIZHI’s most recent (Q1 2022) financial results, the company has 51.5 million average Monthly Active Users across its products.
TIYA, whose own headquarters are based inSingapore, lets users chat with each other via text or audio, as well as play games and watch YouTube videos together in group chats.
According to press materials issued by LIZHI, the Spotify integration now enables TIYA users “to listen to music or podcasts together by sharing Spotify features between phones within the TIYA App,” which has accumulated v
TIYA claims to be “home to tens of thousands of groups where users bond over shared interests and interact in real-time group spaces where they can watch YouTube videos and listen to music and podcasts, among other activities”.
The press statement adds that, “with this integration, the TIYA app also offers Spotify users a new platform to listen to music and podcasts and interact with friends at the same time.”
This news follows Spotify’s own moves into the social audio space in recent months.
In March 2021, Spotify acquired Betty Labs, the creator of Clubhouse rival Locker Room, which was a sports-focused, live talk app.
In June 2021, Spotifyrenamed Locker Room as “Greenroom” and made it available as a separate app in over 135 markets around the world.
In April, Greenroom was rebranded as Spotify Live, and in addition to being available as a stand-alone app, was also integrated as a livestream function in the main Spotify app.
James Lin, CEO of TIYA, says that “With the rollout of the new Spotify function in TIYA, which enables access to Spotify’s expansive selection of content directly from the streaming service, our users now have another tool to socialize and share their lifestyles and interests”.
“With the rollout of the new Spotify function in TIYA, which enables access to Spotify’s expansive selection of content directly from the streaming service, our users now have another tool to socialize and share their lifestyles and interests.”
James Lin, TIYA
James Lin, TIYA’s CEO, said: “Enjoying music together has emerged as one of the most popular interactive features among TIYA users in the US, such as through using the in-app YouTube playback feature to listen to music with friends in TIYA’s real-time interactive group spaces.
“With the rollout of the new Spotify function in TIYA, which enables access to Spotify’s expansive selection of content directly from the streaming service, our users now have another tool to socialize and share their lifestyles and interests.
“TIYA is an alternative to typing-based social networking platforms, allowing users to more quickly and easily enter an online room and chat in real time.
“With TIYA’s more casual vibe, users also feel more at ease and comfortable, which is why many of our users log into TIYA and create rooms to chat with their close friends and listen to music together as an everyday routine.”Music Business Worldwide
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