SPOTIFY EXPANDS ITS HORIZONS

For the first time, two streaming services are coming together to offer one consumer segment an entertainment bundle. Spotify Premium for Students, now with Hulu is offering the usual discounted student subscription, but with the addition of the Hulu steaming service. For just $4.99 a month, eligible students can get both subscriptions, sweetening the deal in an attempt to expand their market presence.

Additionally, Spotify has partnered with a SoCal tech company for exclusive compatibility with its new streaming device. Created by Mighty Auto, a Kickstarter-funded startup, the Mighty is a device that can log 1,000 songs downloaded from the user's Spotify account. Priced under $100, Mighty will last through five hours of listening and pairs with Bluetooth headsets or speakers. You’ll find more info on the Mighty here.

These new partnerships come on the heels of Spotify adding Courtney Holt, a former EVP Media & Strategy at Disney, to its executive staff. Holt will serve as VP and Head of Spotify Studios and Video, working on seeding playlists with video on top titles—as on Rap Caviar.

This recent wave of changes and partnerships demonstrates Spotify’s commitment to expanding beyond its bread-and-butter market of cellphone users. It will be interesting to see what steps the company’s decision-makers take next.