Spotify Adds Nine AI DJ Voices and an Option to Turn Off the Commentary

Premium subscribers can now choose from seven English voices with American, British, Irish, Australian and Indian accents, and two new Spanish voices. Each voice has its own name and personality. Among the three American options, Casey is laid-back and warm, Tess is direct and has an edge, and Lane has a Southern accent and youthful energy, TechCrunch reported. The Spanish voices, Nico and Fabi, are Mexican, according to Engadget.

The DJ is one of Spotify's most-used AI features. TechCrunch said more than 94 million Premium listeners use it. Spotify is giving it the kind of customisation that general-purpose AI assistants already offer, as it competes for listeners' time in an app that now also includes a conversational music agent and AI playlist tools.

The DJ's original English voice, known as X and based on recordings of a Spotify employee, will remain available. In Spanish, Nico and Fabi will replace the previous voice, Livi, and become the only options.

The second change lets listeners switch off the commentary. Usually, the DJ introduces each block of music and explains why it chose the tracks. With the new setting, it speaks only briefly when a session starts or ends, or when the listener asks it to change the music. Spotify said the option is "perfect for moments like hosting a dinner party," when people want background music without interruptions.

Users can reach the settings by searching for "DJ" in the app and opening the three-dot menu to choose a voice and commentary level. Tapping the DJ button again changes the genre or artist mix.

Spotify launched the AI DJ in 2023 and has since added requests and more languages. The new voices and the commentary setting are rolling out from November 10 to Premium users in the more than 95 markets where the DJ is available, in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese.