Spotify to hold big event, just before Apple unleashes its new music streaming service

‘We have big news,’ is all Spotify’s invite said, as rumours swirl about a move into video

No more being kicked out of Spotify at parties (Reuters)

Spotify is expected to announce a big new change to the service, as competition swells and it looks to move into video.

The company is holding a New York event on May 20, though it has not said what will happen.

The event comes less than a month before the rumoured launch of Apple’s new Beats streaming music service. The company is expected to launch that at its Worldwide Developers Conference in mid-June, and it could be launched later that month.

Earlier this week, Apple was reported to have been asking music labels not to renew their licenses with Spotify, and asking them to push it to get rid of its free tier. That was thought to be partly an attempt to encourage users to leave Spotify’s service and perhaps move instead to Apple’s one.

It also comes just after the launch of Tidal, Jay Z’s music streaming service. While Spotify is not thought to be worried about that launch — and the challenger seems to be facing difficulties taking customers from Spotify — it has heated up the speculation on the streaming music service.

The invite came out at the same time as it was rumoured that Spotify was looking to launch a video service. But since the Spotify is said to be “laying plans” for the service, according to the Wall Street Journal, it’s unlikely that the May event will be focused on a new video service.