Snapchat adds music to platform with Sounds on Snapchat

Snapchat is the latest tech and social media platform to add a music feature with the launch of Sounds on Snapchat today.

The platform said users, or 'Snapchatters', will now be able to choose "from a robust and curated catalogue of music from emerging and established artists" and add it to their Snaps pre or post capture.

"Music makes video creations and communication more expressive, and offers a personal way to recommend music to your closest friends," Snapchat said.

When a user receives a Snap with Sounds, they can swipe up to view the album art, song title, and name of the artist. A 'Play This Song' link then enables users to listen to the full song on their streaming platform of choice - whether Spotify, Apple Music, or SoundCloud.

As part of the launch of Sounds on Snapchat, Justin Bieber and benny blanco's new song 'Lonely' will be featured exclusively in Snapchat's Featured Sounds list today. It gives Snapchatters the opportunity to use the song in their social posts before it's available for download.

Snapchat is also testing the ability for Snapchat users to create their own sounds and add them to their Snaps. This function will be rolled out globally in the coming months.

Sounds on Snapchat is available on the iOS platform.

Snapchat said it now reached 85% of all 13 to 24-year-olds, and 90% of those aged between 18 and 24. On average, more than four billion Snaps are created everyday, the platform claimed.

To hear more about how social and tech platforms are exploiting music, you can watch 7digital's James Priestley discuss music's meteoric rise in apps as part of TMN's Tech Week.