As if we already don’t have enough consumerism in life, Spotify is now bringing its playlists to afterlife. The company has teamed up with beverage brand Liquid Death to launch what it calls the world’s first music-streaming urn. Called Eternal Playlist Urn, it’s a Bluetooth-enabled cremation urn designed to keep your favourite songs playing “for all eternity.” While some may roll their eyes at the idea of commercialising something as sombre as death, according to the company, it wants users to “enjoy music and personal identity” even after they are dead.
Spotify’s new Eternal Playlist Urn, is a limited-edition product and is currently available in the United States. Spotify describes it as “the world’s first wireless speaker designed to bring your music somewhere it’s never been before.” The speaker looks like a traditional white cremation urn, but has a discreetly hidden speaker inside the lid.
Eternal Playlist Urn specs and feature
As odd as it may sound, the Eternal Playlist Urn is anything but cheap. It has been launched with a price tag of $495 (around Rs 45,000). While it’s pricey, it’s not quite in the league of the usual premium speakers from brands like JBL or Sony. There’s no Wi-Fi connectivity or voice assistant built in. Instead, the urn connects to any Bluetooth-compatible device, allowing users to stream playlists directly.
As the announcement puts it, owners can “connect from any compatible device and enjoy your favourite playlist for all eternity.” The product is being sold in limited quantities and is pitched as a collector’s item.
The urn itself features a 2.4-pound white polyester resin body, with a removable lid housing the speaker, a USB-C charging port, and a small blue indicator light. While it resembles a standard cremation Urn, Spotify seemingly presents it as being largely intended as a novelty rather than a conventional ash-holding urn. Only 150 units have been released.
Eternal Playlist Generator
Alongside the hardware launch, Spotify has also introduced the Eternal Playlist Generator, a digital tool available to Spotify users in the US. The tool helps users create a soundtrack for their afterlife, whatever that means.
Users answer a set of playful prompts such as “What’s your eternal vibe?” and “What’s your go-to ghost noise?” Based on those answers and the user’s listening history, Spotify generates a personalised playlist which, according to the company, will be fit for a lifetime — and beyond.
Spotify notes that these playlists can be shared with friends and, for those who own the urn, synced directly to the built-in speaker for what it calls “maximum otherworldly vibes.”
