Spotify buys Heardle

Spotify is buying the daily music trivia game, Heardle. Spotify said it considers Heardle as more than a trivia game; that it’s also a tool for musical discovery. It’s a simple but challenging game. Players are tasked with guessing a song based on its opening notes. They get six guesses, with each hint giving a few more seconds of music to inform their next answer. Ultimately, they get a chance to discover the song in its entirety, whether or not they guessed it correctly. 

For existing Heardle players, the look and feel of the game will stay the same, and it will remain free to play for everyone. And as of today, players can listen to the full song on Spotify at the end of the game. 

The game is available now in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with other countries launching soon. Spotify said it is also planning to integrate Heardle and other interactive experiences more fully into Spotify to allow music lovers to connect more deeply with artists and challenge friends.

“We are always looking for innovative and playful ways to enhance music discovery and help artists reach new fans,” said Spotify’s Global Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich. “Heardle has proven to be a really fun way to connect millions of fans with songs they know and love and with new songs, and a way to compete with their friends as to who has the best musical knowledge. Since its debut, the game has quickly built a loyal following, and it aligns with our plans to deepen interactivity across the Spotify ecosystem.”