Spotify is going to test full music videos in an oncoming battle with YouTube

Spotify, a Swedish music streaming provider, is entering a market that YouTube has controlled for almost 20 years by introducing full-length music videos in a restricted beta for premium members.

In an effort to increase the number of users, the firm said that music videos would be made accessible in beta form on Wednesday to premium customers in the UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Kenya.

Spotify's latest goal, which seeks to attract one billion subscribers by 2030, is up against competition from Alphabet YouTube and Apple Music, which all provide free music videos to customers.  

Spotify launched "clips" in March of last year. These are vertical videos, lasting less than 30 seconds, that musicians may post straight to Spotify.

In an effort to draw in more customers, the firm has also increased the range of products it offers by adding audiobooks and podcasts.

It predicted in February that the number of premium subscribers would surpass 238.3 million, with a total of 239 million in the current quarter.

(Sources: investing.com, reuters.com)