So - what to make of the news that Spotify is restricting its free access? From 1 May, users who signed up to their free service before 1 November 2010 will only be able to play a track for free up to five times. Not only this, but, eventually, there will be a limit of ten hours per month - the equivalent of about 200 tracks or 20 albums. Clearly, the company - who, when they formed in 2007, thoroughly shook up the way in which streaming services were run - have realised that they won't be able to survive as a business unless they change the way in which they operate.
While the initial reaction from people seems to be one of shock and horror, when you think about it, £10 a month isn't actually very much money - especially considering the amount of music available to you for that price. Moreover, it makes an important point about music - that people should be prepared to pay for it. It's no secret that, due to illegal downloading, the music industry has been in decline for a while now - people seem to think it's okay to get something for nothing. The problem is that, at some point, it becomes unsustainable. And - at a very basic level - it means there will be fewer and fewer labels and bands around, which, in the end, means less music. If you're after a record, a CD, an MP3 or a stream of something by your favourite band, paying for it helps them continue to make music in the future.
While paying £10 a month for Spotify won't necessarily have a direct effect on the bands you listen to through it, the principle remains the same. Of course, it's great to be able to sample bands for free, but there are other sites for that - and this will help to offset the attitude that music should be free. Even more importantly, it'll stop those awful adverts from interrupting your listening experience. All moralistic implications aside, that's surely worth the monthly £10 subscription fee alone!
Agree? Disagree? Have something to add? Let us know below.
12:46 PM | 14/04/2011
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Posted by Modena THeGreat at 3:06 PM | 14/04/2011 | Report Abuse
As a long-term free user this has finally swayed me. (Might also be the fact I can now afford it.) Spotify has changed the way I listen to music - £10 a month is a small price to pay.
Posted by Becca at 3:26 PM | 14/04/2011 | Report Abuse
I used to rave about spotify being the future. But now they can fuck off. Viewing a painting whenever I want is free. Hearing a track whenever I want should be free. If I want to invest my money into the artist, I would buy their cd and merchandise and go and invest in seeing them live. How much of that money paid for a premium account would potentially go to the artists??
So if anything.... spotify are taking advantage of people and art now? we'll ill take advantage of spotify, my account will be deleted on May 1st. Wankers.
Posted by Andrew Cohen at 3:46 PM | 14/04/2011 | Report Abuse
The previous post by Andrew illustrates a depressing and disrespectful attitude that I hope with all my heart is in a minority. If you love music, you should be prepared to pay the artists who put so much work into making it. I am already a premium Spotify user, but have misgivings about how much of my tenner actually reaches the artist. I'd like to see much more transparency about how royalties are calculated and paid - and I'd pay more for a service if I knew it was rewarding the musicians properly. If that can be sorted, then streaming is the future...
Posted by Mike at 8:06 PM | 14/04/2011 | Report Abuse
Andrew your an ass.deleting your account doesnt have any impact to spotify.except one free leecher less.ignorant
Posted by ian mahoney at 9:28 PM | 14/04/2011 | Report Abuse
Google in the input: = tntn.us ==you can find many brand names, even more surprising is that he will sell you the unexpected o(∩_∩
Google in the input: = tntn.us ==you can find many brand names, even more surprising is that he will sell you the unexpected o(∩_∩)o
Posted by zhenglishu at 4:24 PM | 15/04/2011 | Report Abuse
Was interested in Spotify until the bullshit "mandatory facebook" nonsense... F the F out of that S. Not all of us buy into the social media hype or give a flying fuck what our digital "friends" are listening to.
Posted by Fakesbook at 3:34 PM | 16/05/2012 | Report Abuse
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