Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services today. I am sure you have it installed on your phone and listen to music daily.
Plus, you know that QR Codes are being used in almost every area today, to which music is no exception. And your favourite music app—Spotify also got a QR Code!
Introduced in May 2017, Spotify QR Codes are known as ‘Spotify Codes’. They make it easier for users to share, listen, and promote their music via the Spotify app.
In this article, we will tell you all you need to know about Spotify Codes.
Keep reading.
A. What are Spotify Codes
Spotify Codes are unique barcodes, which are created for every song, album, and artist in the Spotify app. They are scannable ‘tags’, which look like soundwave-stylized codes. And hence are pleasing to look at.
Spotify Codes can be generated in any color. You can either directly download it from your app or create one on your own. The Code has a Spotify logo in the front, which makes it easy for in-app scanner to identify and scan it.
Similar to Snapchat QR Codes (SnapCodes), they are scannable images, which make sharing music easier.
Here’s a sneak peek on how Spotify Codes works:
Now let’s move ahead to show how you can use Spotify Codes.
B. How can you use Spotify Codes
Spotify Codes are a visual reminder around the web of how one can listen to on-demand music easily. Here is how Spotify Codes make the music world more engaging:
1. Share music easily
If you like a song on Spotify and want your friends to enjoy it too, you can share it instantly. All you need to do is—share the Spotify Code with your friends. They just need to scan the Code to stream into the song instantly.
In the same way, you can share music albums and artists with your friends with that ease.
So, you no longer need to fish out a link and send it to your friend over social media apps, which then opens in the browser and deep links to Spotify.
With Spotify Codes, listening to music becomes much more easy and quick.
2. Promote music effortlessly
Spotify Codes are great news for artists who promote their music especially through print media. Say, as a music artist, you promote your songs by giving your song link on print media creatives such as flyers and brochures. But not many people actually type your Spotify URL and listen to your music.
But now, artists can simply print their Spotify Codes on the promotional material. This will not only make it easy for users to listen to the song, but also act as an element of engagement on print media.
Now, let’s move on to show you how to create your Spotify Code.
C. How to create your Spotify Code
Here are the steps, which you need to follow:
- Open Spotify app and go to the song/album/artist you want to create the Spotify Code for.
- Now click on the three dots on the right hand corner of the song.
- Here, amongst other options, you will see the option of Share. Click on this option and then choose Copy Link. Your link will be copied.
- Now, open browser and create your Spotify Code.
- You need to paste your Spotify URL. Here, you can also specify:
- Background color: You can either choose from the given color options or specify the hex code of the color
- Bar color: This is the color of the bars, which the Spotify Code is made up of. You can either choose a black or a white color
- The size of the Code is already defined, which is 640 pixels
- Image format: You can choose to download the Spotify Code in JPEG, SVG, or PNG formats
- Once specified, click on Download. Your Spotify Code will be created.
You can now print this Code and share/promote your music.
Besides, you can find a Spotify Code for each song in your app. In the next section, we will see how.
D. How to find a Spotify Code
Every song in the Spotify app has a unique barcode. The steps to find the Spotify Code are the same in both Android and ios. Here is what you need to do:
1. Open the Spotify app on your smartphone.
2. Choose the song you wish to share from your playlist.
3. Click on the ellipsis (three dots) you see next to the artist’s name.
4. You will see the image with the Spotify Code on it.
This is your Spotify Code for that song/album/artist. You will also see the option of Save Photos beneath this image. By tapping on this, you can save the image on your phone and share it with your friends via email, messages, or social media.
You now know how to find your Spotify Code. And in order to listen to music, you need to scan the Code. In the next section, we will show you how to scan Spotify Code.
E. How to scan a Spotify Code
Here the steps, which you need to follow:
- Open Spotify app on your phone.
- Click on the search option. You will see a camera icon on the top right of the screen.
- Click on the camera icon. The scanner will launch.
- Now, point your camera on the Spotify Code to scan it.
Once the Code is scanned, you will be able to listen to the music instantly.
But say you and your friend are sitting at a physical distance. And you want your friend to listen to a particular song. Since your friend cannot physically scan the Spotify Code, there is another way through which they can scan and listen to music. This is:
All you need to do this send the Spotify Code to your friend over a messaging app. Your friend can then upload this image as they launch the scanner.
The scanner will detect the Code and pop up the song for them.
Hence this way, Spotify Code makes it very easy to share and listen to music.
F. Spotify Code—Best Practices
Spotify Codes have definitely optimized promotion of music through print media. With these Codes, music artists can make their print media marketing actionable and engaging.
Here are a couple of best practices for Spotify Code. Follow them to promote your music flawlessly.
1. Test before printing
It is very important to test whether your Spotify Code is properly scannable. A Code, which cannot be scanned will be invalid on your print media creatives.
2. Ensure enough contrast
As you create your Spotify Code, ensure that there is enough contrast between the bars and the background. That is, if the bar color is light, then keep the background color dark. This practice will ensure that the Spotify Code is properly scanned.
3. Do not cut the rectangle
All Spotify Codes must have a distinct rectangle over which the Code is placed. Without this, users will not be able to scan the Code. Besides, the rectangle helps users to spot the Spotify Code easily.
4. Specify an appropriate size
Define the size keeping in mind from where users will be scanning the Spotify Code. You need to remember that the in-app camera does not zoom. Hence, Spotify Codes work better when placed on flyers, brochures, or posters. It may become difficult to scan if you print the Spotify Code over a billboard.
5. Add CTA element
It is very important to tell users what the Spotify Code is all about. Only once they get a direction, they will scan the Code.
Hence adding a simple note such as ‘Scan with Spotify’ will help. This will prompt users to do the needful.
So, follow these practices to get best results.
This is all you need to know about Spotify Codes. Similar to Spotify Codes, a lot of apps also use their own QR Codes. See the list of apps that use their own QR Codes.
Will the Spotify Codes make sharing music easier for you? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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