Spotify's Educational Courses Expansion: U.S. Launch Imminent Following U.K. Success

By Marcus Delano Thompson

January 23, 2025 at 11:50 PM

Spotify is expanding its educational offerings with a new courses feature that could soon launch in the United States, following its ongoing pilot program in the U.K.

Person meditating near flowing river

Person meditating near flowing river

The platform currently offers video-learning content in the UK covering diverse topics including meditation, cooking, workplace communication, and creative self-care. While U.S. users can now search for the courses category, the content remains inaccessible pending an official launch.

This expansion comes as part of Spotify's broader diversification strategy, which already includes audiobooks and video content. The platform has been actively incorporating video elements across its services, including:

  • Video podcasts
  • TV shows
  • Concert specials
  • Video-enhanced audiobooks (launched in November 2024)

The move has significant implications for royalty payments, as bundled content receives statutory royalty discounts. Recent data shows that less than 1% of Spotify U.S. subscriptions are standalone music-only packages, raising concerns among songwriters and publishers.

Spotify continues to strengthen its non-music offerings, recently advertising positions for senior audiobooks roles and focusing on scalable content integration. The platform is also actively promoting its audiobook collection "Thoughts That Count" to U.S. subscribers.

The Music Licensing Collective (MLC) is currently challenging Spotify's bundling practices in court, with ongoing discovery proceedings addressing the legality of these business strategies.

Three men seated on curb

Three men seated on curb

This expansion into educational courses represents another step in Spotify's evolution from a music-streaming platform to a comprehensive media and learning destination.

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