Spotify launches a Clubhouse rival on its quest to throw the coolest pod party

No crying in the Clubhouse... Well, maybe a few tears. Yesterday, Spotify launched its Clubhouse competitor "Greenroom." The social audio app is a Spotify-branded revamp of Locker Room, a sports-talk app that Spotify bought in March. Greenroom expands beyond Sunday football, to convos about music, culture, and Q&As with artists and podcasters.

• Testing, testing: Some features of Greenroom could be integrated into the actual Spotify app. For now, Spotify wants to see how (and if) people use it.
• Beyond Wrapped: Spotify loves designing cool stories for your Insta (your Top Song of 2020 is crucial info). But Greenroom is its first real stab at a social platform.

Two parties on the same night... Claaassic high-school conundrum. To lure people to yours, you might throw in Taco Bell and even a DJ. Spotify does things a little differently. In its quest to steal ears from Apple, Spotify has spent nearly $1B on pod-related acquisitions — including The Ringer, Gimlet, and Parcast. Now it's beefing up the VIP list.

• Alex Cooper will be there. Spotify just snagged exclusive rights for top podcast "Call Her Daddy" (reportedly for $60M+).
• Joe Rogan's already sipping the green punch. Spotify brought "The Joe Rogan Experience" into its gated garden party (reportedly for $100M+).
• It's working: Spotify’s US podcast listenership is expected to surpass Apple Podcasts for the first time this year.