Spotify's trying to build its own version of Clubhouse
Clubhouse's days might be numbered with the news that Spotify has acquired the maker of a live talk app.
The streaming platform announced today (30 March) that it will buy Betty Labs, the makers of Locker Room, a live audio social app focused on sports. This follows Daniel Ek - Chairman and CEO of Spotify - hinting on an investor call last month that the company is interested in taking steps to add social features to the service.
Although Spotify hasn't shared how much it spent on acquiring Betty Labs, Spotify has highlighted the "unparalleled data, insights, and strength in user experience, to build-out a full complement of live and on-demand offerings for users and creators across the globe" offered by the acquisition.
Speaking to The Verge, Gustav Söderström, chief R&D officer at Spotify, explained that "Spotify will let anyone host conversations - not just approved creators - meaning its app will directly compete with all of the various live audio apps currently on the market, including Twitter Spaces, Clubhouse, and Discord."
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