According to code found hidden within the Android version of the Instagram app it appears that you may soon have the option to add soundtracks for your Instagram Stories.
The code, which was initially found by Ishan Agarwal, shows an unreleased search music feature hidden within the Instagram Stories system. The code suggests that ‘music stickers’ could be searched for genres, moods, or trending songs, then placed in videos and possibly even photos.
The feature would likely leverage deals that have been made between Facebook and record labels like Sony, Warner Music, Universal and other European publishers, who have recently inked music licensing deals with the company.
Instagram has so far declined to comment about the code and hidden feature. While the Music Stickers feature hasn’t been confirmed, Instagram has confirmed three other big features first reported by TechCrunch and spotted by Agarwal that it initially refused to discuss: Focus mode for shooting portraits, QR-scannable Nametags for following people and video calling, which got an official debut at F8.
Another developer, Jane Manchun Wong, has however been able to test the new Music Stickers feature and has provided the above screenshot taken directly from within the Instagram app, showing the prototype design looking a bit janky and slow causing the app to crash when she tried to post anything using the music stickers. The music sticker search interface can be seen on the right hand side of the screenshot above. Wong said to TechCrunch that Instagram automatically detected a song she was currently playing on her phone and created a sticker for it (not using audio recognition like Shazam.)
We will be keep an eye out for any news of when the new soundtrack sticker feature will roll out to users but it certainly is an interesting move and would put further pressures on other social media apps like Musical.ly and SnapChat.
What do you think of this new feature? Are you excited to have the ability to add music you want to share with friends without getting into too much trouble or having your photos or videos deleted? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
