Instagram debuts new profile music feature with Sabrina Carpenter, drawing inspiration from Myspace

Instagram has launched a new feature allowing users to add music to their profiles, a nostalgic nod to the early days of social media on Myspace. The Meta-owned platform tapped pop star Sabrina Carpenter to debut the feature by premiering her new song "Taste" on her Instagram profile. Fans can listen to the track through a music player embedded on her page, offering a unique experience reminiscent of Myspace's iconic profile songs from the 2000s.

Meta, known for adopting features from its competitors, acknowledges the feature's origins in its official press release. The company notes that users can now display songs on their profiles “just like you could back in the early 2000s.” This latest addition follows Instagram's history of incorporating elements from other platforms, such as Snapchat’s Stories and TikTok’s user interface.

Sabrina Carpenter, who has had a breakout year in 2024 with hits like "Espresso," was chosen to introduce the feature to Instagram's Gen Z audience. Her songs have become popular soundtracks for short-form videos across social media, and the premiere of "Taste" is expected to drive significant engagement on the platform. Instagram has also included easter eggs related to Carpenter’s music within the app, such as a feature that turns Notes baby blue when users type specific lyrics from her viral track "Espresso."

If "Taste" replicates the success of Carpenter’s previous hits, it could validate Instagram's decision to revive a decades-old social media feature. The resurgence of Myspace-inspired elements like profile music highlights the enduring influence of mid-2000s internet culture in today's tech landscape.