Spotify is rolling out a set of updates that, in my view, make listening feel a little more connected to the people behind the music. The company announced that it is expanding its Song Credits feature on the mobile app. Until now, credits usually focused on the main songwriters and producers. With the update, listeners will see a fuller list that includes sound engineers, background vocalists, and musicians who played on the track.
Key Takeaway
• Spotify now lists more contributors like engineers and background vocalists in the song credits.
• A new tool called SongDNA will map out samples, covers, and collaborations for tracks.
• The About the Song feature will display swipeable cards with stories and facts about the music.
• These updates are rolling out to mobile users now, with some features coming to Premium subscribers early next year.
It might seem like a small detail, but it makes it easier to appreciate how many individuals shape a single song. For listeners in India and everywhere else, the change highlights the real amount of work involved in producing a track. You can view these credits through the three dots next to a song by selecting “Show credits.” According to Spotify, the information comes directly from labels and distributors, which I think helps maintain accuracy.
New Ways to Explore Music History
Spotify is also preparing two additional tools that look at the deeper story behind a track. The first is SongDNA, which functions a bit like a family tree for music. It shows how songs connect to one another through samples, covers, remixes, and collaborations. So if a popular Bollywood track borrows from an older classic, SongDNA will surface that connection. Spotify is building this feature using data from WhoSampled, a database that has long cataloged music samples and covers.
The second feature is About the Song. This will appear in the Now Playing view as swipeable cards that share stories and facts about the track. These cards might describe what inspired the lyrics or where the song was recorded or why it carries cultural meaning. I suspect many listeners will find themselves pausing for a moment just to read these little insights, almost out of natural curiosity.
Availability and Future Plans
The expanded song credits are available now on mobile and will arrive on desktop soon. SongDNA and About the Song are still in progress and will launch for Premium subscribers early next year. It seems Spotify wants to ensure these tools feel polished before everyone gets access.
Before that wide release, artists and their teams can preview the features. This lets them confirm the accuracy of credits and story cards and request adjustments when something looks off. It is a practical step that should help keep the information reliable once it reaches listeners.
By adding all of this, Spotify is giving people fewer reasons to search elsewhere for details about a track. Instead of jumping to Google to look up who contributed to a song or where a sample came from, you can find it directly in the app. At the same time, it provides recognition for every person involved in the creative process. It all quietly reinforces the idea that a song is rarely the work of just one or two names and understanding that can make listening feel a little richer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I see the full credits for a song on Spotify?
A. Open the Spotify app and play a song. Tap the three dots (menu icon) next to the song title or in the player view. Select “Show credits” from the list to see the writers, producers, and other contributors.
Q. What is the SongDNA feature?
A. SongDNA is a new tool that shows the connections between songs. It tells you if a track contains samples from other songs, if it is a cover version, or who the collaborators are.
Q. Is the “About the Song” feature available for free users?
A. Spotify currently plans to release “About the Song” and “SongDNA” specifically for Premium subscribers when they launch widely next year.
Q. Where does Spotify get the information for these credits?
A. The information for song credits comes directly from the record labels, music publishers, and distributors who upload the music to Spotify.
Q. Can I fix the credits if they are wrong?
A. Listeners cannot change credits directly. However, artists and their teams can use the “Spotify for Artists” platform to review the data and request corrections from their distributors.
Q. Why can I see credits for some songs but not others?
A. Credits appear only if the record label or distributor provided that specific data. Older songs or tracks from smaller independent artists might not have complete information yet.
