Spotify is entering into the world of live audio with the acquisition of Betty Labs, the creators of sports-focused live audio app Locker Room.

Though the terms of the deal have not been shared, Spotify has said that it will use the acquisition to accelerate its entry into the live audio space – a space that is, of course, currently led by Clubhouse.

“Creators and fans have been asking for live formats on Spotify, and we’re excited that soon, we’ll make them available to hundreds of millions of listeners and millions of creators on our platform,” said Gustav Söderström, Chief Research & Development Officer at Spotify. “The world already turns to us for music, podcasts, and other unique audio experiences, and this new live audio experience is a powerful complement that will enhance and extend the on-demand experience we provide today.”

In particular, Spotify aims to use the Locker Room app – which debuted in October 2020 – to open up live audio to a wider range of creators and fans, continuing to host sports-based programming while extending the experience to cater for music and cultural programming. This expansion will also see Spotify debut interactive features including real-time discussions, debates, ask me anything (AMA) sessions, and more.

“We are excited to join forces with Spotify and contribute to building the future of audio – we’ll invest more in our product, open the experience to Spotify’s audience, diversify our content offerings, and continue expanding the community we’ve built,” said Betty Labs Founder and CEO Howard Akumiah. “With Spotify, we’ll continue to offer the best home for sports fans and use the lessons we’ve learned along the way to create the ultimate destination for live conversation around music and culture.”