Facebook yesterday launched a “Listen” button that will allow users to stream music directly from musicians’ fan pages. The new feature will not only improve the user’s experience, but will likely increase their time on the particular page, meaning more ad revenues for the social network.

The new button, which appears between the “like” and “message” buttons, can instantly start streaming music through apps like Spotify and Rdio. The site opens the separate program, but keeps the user on the fan page. Previously, listeners would have been diverted to a separate page to access the music.

(This is not to be confused with the “Listen With” button, which allows groups of friends to listen to the same music at the same time.)

This is a win-win scenario for Facebook. It streamlines end user experience, drives users to apps like Spotify that are inherently built around Facebook, and keeps them on the site longer. Longer page views and increased individualized data all equal higher ad revenues for the site that traffics largely in advertisements.

What do you think about the new Listen button?

[via CNET]

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