Facebook Takes On Turntable.fm, Launches “Listen With” Group Listening & Chat

Taking cues from Turntable.fm, multiple Facebook users can now listen in on their friend’s music while simultaneously initiating a group chat together. Announced today, the new Facebook feature called “Listen With” provides users with a chat room in which they can share songs and initiate messaging – simulating the experience of being in the same room while enjoying tunes together.

Users can select the songs they'll be streaming through both Spotify and Rdio (the latter will become available in the coming days), but Facebook plans on adding more music partners in the future. "Listen With" integration can be seen in the chat sidebar where it now displays what your friends are listening to. While we’ve already seen this with Facebook’s Open Graph, “Listen With” takes it one step further.

Once a user hovers over a friend's name, they'll be presented a prompt that encourages them to listen to the song with their friend through whatever streaming service they’re currently using. Multiple users will then be able to listen in on one friend’s music, and the entire group will be able chat together. Chat rooms are set to max out at 50 friends, and users can opt in or out at anytime.  

While the “Listen With” feature may potentially increase a user's time spent on Facebook, it’s worth noting that this new feature may also entice users who were once hesitant to sign up to streaming services to do so now – mainly because they wouldn't want to be left out on a listening party with their friends.

What do you think of Facebook’s new “Listen With” feature? Leave your comments below.

This post is by regular Hypebot contributor and independent music business professional & musician, Hisham Dahud (@HishamDahud)