Spotify is easily among the most popular music streaming services in the world. Its apps for different platforms are continuously updated with new features. Back in March, the Spotify app for Android received a new homescreen UI along with a universal Shuffle button and a rejigged Action row. In the following month, Spotify started receiving the Follow Feed whereas a social listing feature was added in May. Now, Spotify is adding real-time lyrics that will be available in 26 markets across the globe.

Real-time lyrics on Spotify are powered by Musixmatch, a music player that automatically downloads lyrics for offline store music and displays them in real-time in the player UI as well as the lockscreen. Last year, the Swedish music streamer started testing the live lyrics feature in Canada, Indonesia, and Mexico.

Unlike Musixmatch, the real-time lyrics on Spotify can be spotted by scrolling down on the player UI – i.e. the same place where you usually find Behind the Lyrics or Storyline snippets which are powered by Genius. The feature also supports multiple languages and will display lyrics in the same language as the song.

Spotify has confirmed to TechCrunch that the feature goes live for the 26 markets starting 10 AM EST on June 30th. The list of markets where real-time lyrics will be available on Spotify includes Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Uruguay, and Vietnam. Interestingly, Canada has been left out from the release despite it being part of the beta testing group. Meanwhile, Spotify relies on another service provider to already offer lyrics in Japan.

Although competitor streaming service Apple Music got real-time lyrics last year with iOS 13, TechCrunch notes Spotify due to legal complexities related to the redistribution of lyrics. Lyrics are usually either sourced directly from the artist or transcribed by fans but the license to redistribute them is provided by the music label.

Spotify notes its global partnership with Musixmatch will offer the world's largest repository of lyrics and translations to its users.