Share and Enjoy Music with Friends on Facebook
Note: This post was first published on April 6, 2012.
Listening to music with friends is a delightful experience, traditionally limited to when you’re physically together. Now, you can recreate this joy from the comfort of your home using Facebook’s ‘Listen With’ feature. This tool lets you enjoy both new and old tunes with friends, in real-time, without any need for status updates.
As you play music, it appears in your chat sidebar, allowing your friends to join in. The chat could even blossom into a group discussion as more friends tune in.
How to Start Listening on Facebook
Begin by logging into your Facebook account.
Step 1: Navigate to Facebook Music
Once logged in, visit the Facebook Music page where you’ll find trending albums and tracks powered by Myspace. Spotify and Rdio are also available, though their availability is limited to certain countries.
You can access the music page directly from the ‘Apps’ category on your Facebook wall.
Step 2: Add the Music Application to Facebook
In the Music page, choose your desired music. A pop-up will prompt you to integrate the service with Facebook. Click “Add to Facebook” to proceed.
Keep in mind, you might be prompted to add new apps like Spotify, Rdio, or Saavn separately.
Step 3: Start Playing!
After adding, the music app will open in a new browser tab. Wait for the music to load and play automatically.
Next time you want to play a song, a pop-up will ask whether to open a new tab or window.
Discover Who’s Listening to What
Facebook Music updates in real-time, showing who’s listening to what. This allows you and your friends to join in, comment, or start a conversation about the music being played.
Option A: Facebook Wall
Look for music-related status updates on the right of your Facebook Wall. Click on any update to view the playlist and engage with it.
Option B: Facebook Timeline
Check the Timeline for recent music plays. Click the play button or hover for details.
Option C: Facebook Chat Sidebar
Look for a music symbol next to a friend’s name in the chat sidebar to see if they’re listening to music. Currently, this feature is available for Spotify and Rdio users.
Engage and Listen Together
Engage with your friends by joining in on a song they’re playing and chat about it in real time. If multiple friends join, the chat naturally evolves into a group conversation.
Conclusion
Facebook’s new music features enrich your online interactions by connecting you and your friends through music. Enjoy seamless, real-time music sharing and engage in dynamic conversations without needing to manually update your status.