Music Artists Get 'Listen' Button on Facebook

PC World - Facebook added a "Listen' button Tuesday to the pages of music artists on the social network.

The button appears beside the "Like" button on the artist's page (as shown on this page) and clicking it will play music from the artist, provided you've installed a streaming app on your computer like Spotify or MOG. Facebook doesn't have a mobile app yet that supports the new feature.

If you don't have a music app installed on your computer, Facebook offers to subscribe you to Spotify.

The new button makes it easier for you to sample a musician's sound and decide if you want to "like" them or not.

What Will You Listen To?

What music is sent your way depends on your streaming software. Spotify, for example, plays the artist's five most popular songs. Rdio, on the other hand, plays a mix of songs based on the artist's "radio station."

This latest gambit by Facebook to prolong your visits to the social network nicely complements another feature added earlier in the year: "listen with." It allows you and a friend to listen to a song simultaneously.

Follow freelance technology writer John P. Mello Jr. and Today@PCWorld on Twitter.