• by Colin Kirkland , August 15, 2023

Shortly after announcing a new feature that allows users to add a song to their photo and video grid posts, Instagram is expanding its test of song lyrics in its short-form video product Reels, providing users and brands with another in-app music-centric creation option.

“We previously mentioned we’re testing the ability to add music to your Reels -- just like you can with Stories,” said Instagram head Adam Mosseri on his broadcast channel Monday. “We’re now bringing that test to more countries, and are excited to see how people get creative with music on Reels.”

The new feature currently invites selected users to add a song to their Reel and then experience the automated display of lyrics from that song on the screen in real-time. Users will have access to editing tools to control how the lyrics appear, with the choice to alter the size, font, color, style and appearance of the words.

The same feature has been available in the Stories format on Instagram since 2019. It is unknown which countries are being added in this current expansion of the ongoing Reels testing phase, but with a larger user base gaining access, more information is likely to surface about the feature.

By incorporating more music-engagement features into its platform, such as the ability to add songs to images and videos in carousel posts and recommended tracks to add to Reels and more, Instagram may again be following TikTok, which easily allows users to add song lyrics to their posts.

TikTok provides a platform for artists' songs to go viral, and now it is fortifying its place in the music industry by expanding its licensing agreement with Warner Music and testing an upcoming subscription streaming service to rival Spotify and Apple Music.

However, as TikTok, a China-owned platform, faces ongoing scrutiny and a potential ban in the U.S. over privacy concerns and ties to the Chinese Communist Party, Instagram may be preparing to fill the void.