Spotify, the popular music streaming platform, has recently rolled out some updates that have angered its free users in India. The updates have severely restricted the ability to shuffle, repeat and skip songs within the app. Many users have expressed their dissatisfaction and frustration on social media, calling the updates “humiliating” and “greedy”.
Spotify Faces Backlash and Threats of Uninstalling
Some of the free users have posted screenshots of the app showing messages such as “You can’t skip this song” or “You can’t move forward or backward timeline of your current song”. Some have also shared videos of the app not allowing them to shuffle or repeat their playlists. These users have accused Spotify of trying to force them to upgrade to premium plans by limiting their options. Some have even threatened to uninstall the app and switch to other platforms.
Spotify Reports Growth in Revenue and Subscribers
The updates come at a time when Spotify has reported a 26% increase in its monthly active users, reaching 574 million, and a 16% increase in its subscribers, reaching 226 million. The company has also increased its revenue by 11%, reaching 3.4 billion euros. Earlier this year, Spotify implemented price hikes for its premium plans in select countries, excluding India. The company has said that it is adjusting its pricing in various markets to reflect its value.
Spotify Has Not Responded to the Criticism Yet
Spotify has not issued any official statement or response to the criticism from its free users in India. It is not clear whether the updates are permanent or temporary, or whether they will be applied to other regions as well. Spotify has faced similar backlash in the past for limiting its free service, such as imposing a cap on the number of songs that can be downloaded or streamed offline.
Spotify Offers Various Features and Benefits for Premium Users
Spotify’s premium plans offer various features and benefits that are not available for free users, such as ad-free listening, unlimited skips and downloads, high-quality audio, offline mode, and access to exclusive podcasts and content. The premium plans range from Rs. 7 per day to Rs. 999 per year in India, depending on the type of plan and the number of users.
