Everyone’s private driver, Uber, are reportedly set to announce a partnership with music streaming giant Spotify this week. According to The New York Times, the partnership between Spotify and the ride-sharing service will enable Spotify playlists to be accessed and played during rides.

The Times reports that press members were sent e-mail invitations on Friday evening US time, asking them to join a conference call with Travis Kalanick, chief executive of Uber, and an unnamed “special partner guest” for an announcement of a “first-of-its-kind partnership”.

According to the Times, the “special partner guest” is expected to be Daniel Ek, chief executive of Spotify, with the conference speculated to be an official announcement of the two companies’ new partnership.

Meanwhile, Tech Crunch have obtained screenshots of how the new integration will likely work. A new addition to the Uber app reportedly asks drivers to update their information and to specify if their car has an AUX audio input.

The tech outlet speculates that Uber’s mobile app will be updated to include a Spotify interface, displaying the song and artist being displayed, and enabling users to pause, skip, rewind, and shuffle tracks in their pre-selected playlists.

The user’s app will be connected to the driver’s, who is asked to plug his or her own phone into their AUX audio input, so that the user’s chosen playlist, along with their manipulations, can be played aloud through the car’s speakers.

While the screenshots don’t include what company will be providing the music being pumped into Uber vehicles, Tech Crunch has confirmed Spotify will be Uber’s partner for the service. A 10-month-old French video readers can check below appears to confirm the deal.

While the announcement of the deal does not come at the most opportune time for the streaming service (the company is currently embroiled in a back-and-forth argument over royalties with Taylor Swift), it does fit with a wider strategic push at the company.

With a user base of 50 million active listeners, Spotify has been looking to make its service more ubiquitous, extending its applications outside of the desktop. Spotify previously netted deals with Ford and Volvo to embed the service in their cars.

As Hypebot reports, while Uber will use the partnership to enhance the all-important user experience, Spotify will be able to demonstrate “how easily it can replace broadcast radio in the last place that it still dominates – your car”.

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine