Spotify is making another major move in its evolution beyond audio. The streaming giant has announced a new beta feature that allows eligible artists to upload full-length videos directly through Spotify for Artists. For the first time, musicians can manage official music videos, live performances, acoustic sessions, covers, and studio recordings without relying entirely on labels or third-party distributors.

According to Spotify, these videos are royalty-bearing and may also qualify for chart eligibility. Access is currently rolling out to eligible artists participating in the beta program, with additional creators able to join a waitlist through Spotify for Artists.

What Artists Can Upload

Spotify says videos must be tied to a specific song or release and can range from 30 seconds to 20 minutes long. Supported content includes official music videos, live performances, acoustic versions, studio sessions, covers, and alternate versions such as dance videos.

Not everything makes the cut, however. Lyric videos, visualizers, videos without music, and full concerts are currently excluded. Each submission is reviewed before appearing on the platform.

Spotify highlighted several examples already using the feature, including singer-songwriter Hazlett uploading a live version of Blame the Moon, We Three sharing a cover of Train’s Drops of Jupiter, and Bebe Rexha releasing the official music video for Hysteria.

Why Spotify Is Moving Beyond Audio

While music videos themselves aren’t new to Spotify, direct uploads are. Since introducing music videos in beta, Spotify has primarily relied on labels and distributors to deliver visual content to the platform. By giving artists direct access, the company is removing some of those barriers and allowing musicians greater control over how fans experience their releases.

Spotify says listeners who engage with videos are more likely to revisit songs, save tracks, and share music with others. In other words, video content isn’t just about visuals—it’s about creating deeper engagement between artists and fans.

The company has steadily expanded its video ambitions over the past several years through music videos, video podcasts, editorial content, and visual discovery features, signaling that Spotify sees video as an increasingly important part of the streaming experience.

The End Of Spotify Clips

The launch of full-length video uploads also signals the end of Spotify Clips. As of June 17, Spotifyhas stopped accepting new uploads for its short-form Clips feature, although existing Clips will remain available. Those videos will eventually live under a dedicated Video tab on artist profiles, which is currently rolling out.

The shift suggests Spotify is prioritizing richer and more immersive content over short-form videos, allowing artists to tell more complete stories around their music.

Spotify Is Taking Aim At YouTube

For years, music consumption has followed a familiar pattern: stream the song on Spotify and watch the video on YouTube.

That separation may be starting to disappear.

By allowing artists to upload and monetize videos directly, Spotify is attempting to keep fans inside its ecosystem while giving creators another way to tell stories around their releases. Instead of sending listeners elsewhere, artists can complement songs with live performances, acoustic versions, studio sessions, and official music videos all in one place.

The move also intensifies Spotify’s competition with YouTube, which has long dominated music video consumption. While YouTube remains unmatched in scale, Spotify’s advantage lies in combining music discovery, streaming, and visual content under one roof.

What This Means For Independent Artists

For independent musicians, the feature could provide another avenue for reaching fans without relying solely on YouTube and social media platforms.

Instead of treating visual content as something separate from streaming, artists can now keep listeners engaged inside Spotify through alternate versions, behind-the-scenes sessions, and live performances. Combined with analytics and monetization tools, the update gives creators more ways to deepen relationships with their audiences.

As streaming services continue competing for attention, Spotify’s latest announcement suggests the future of music may be increasingly visual—and the battle between Spotify and YouTube is only just beginning.

You can join the waitlist Here.