• by Colin Kirkland , February 23, 2023

Spotify is dabbling with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the promise of exclusive listening communities.

The music streaming platform is now testing token-gated playlists -- mixes that can be unlocked through the ownership of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) -- according to a series of tweets by Kingship, a metaverse band signed to Universal Music Group.

Kingship, which consists of rare Bored Apes and Mutant Apes, has launched a curated playlist for Kingship NFT holders via a new Spotify pilot program, in a move to “ALWAYS be at the forefront of technology and music.”

To access the playlist, Android users in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Australia, and New Zealand can link a crypto wallet such as Metamask, Trust Wallet, Rainbow, Ledger Live, or Zerion to authenticate their Kingship Key Card (NFT).

Kingship is not the only NFT community that Spotify has tapped to share token-gated playlists. The service is also available to token holders in the Fluf, Moonbirds, and Overlord communities.

Playlists, according to Coindesk, will be actively updated during the three-month testing period, accessible to community members via a unique link.

“At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve our user experience,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch. “Some of those end up paving the path for our broader user experience and others serve only as important learnings. We have no further news to share on future plans at this time.”

NFTs are not entirely foreign to Spotify. Over the past year, the company tested a feature that allowed select artists like Steve Aoki and The Wombats to promote their own digital art on the platform.

With 489 million users, Spotify may be attempting to fix the utility issue many metaverse and web3 enthusiasts feel is plaguing the industry. On March 8, the company will hold its “Stream On” event, which may include more public information about future plans surrounding NFT compatibility.