It's official! Spotify has raised its subscription prices

[What Hi-Fi?]

Spotify has officially hiked subscription prices across its iters, including Premium Student and Premium Family.

It's official! Spotify has raised its subscription prices : Read more

 

[Neiljbp]

I just wish that the massive amount of folk who get every record in the shop for nothing, be wiped from the platform and be forced to cough up.
I know there is probably some crawling, vomit inducing business reason why this does not happen, but these people should at least show some sign of being sufficiently interested in music, some indication that music means enough to them to actually support the business and then at least these folks would have a little self respect and could stop believing that everything is of no value and should be free.
I guess the free-loaders just use Spotify for background music or to put on when they are doing the housework at the weekends, but that should not matter.
As for the price rises. Come on, get real. In the old days you had to pay and pay properly. If Spotify raised its prices more than they have, still no-one would be paying properly.
Ask me what I paid in 1979 or 1985 or 1990. Yep you guessed it, massive amounts more than the paltry sum Spotify require. Genuine music fans did that and still do today, one way or another.
People should feel embarrassed if they expect everything for nothing. What kind of intelligence do these people have. Don't answer that.
To some extent Spotify and streaming in general have diminished music and in other ways perhaps not. I for one prefer the way it used to be but would not abolish streaming, even if I had the power. I would just demand that if folk express an interest then that comes with a price tag.
All the arguments about people not having the paltry sums to pay for Spotify are ridiculous and should be ignored. Anyone believing them should be transported back to 1985 and left there.

 

[nopiano]

All the arguments about people not having the paltry sums to pay for Spotify are ridiculous and should be ignored. Anyone believing them should be transported back to 1985 and left there.

Is that like the freeloaders who watch ITV and C4 and pay nothing for it? Or have you overlooked the advertising?

 

[Gray]

I just wish that the massive amount of folk who get every record in the shop for nothing, be wiped from the platform and be forced to cough up.
I know there is probably some crawling, vomit inducing business reason why this does not happen

Yes, you're right, the 'crawling, vomit inducing business reason' is that Spotify need 'Freeloaders' to be exposed to the adverts - adverts that subsidise what the payers pay.
If the 'Freeloaders' were 'wiped from the platform' there'd be no adverts and if there were no adverts.....there would be fewer people paying the necessarily higher prices.
Of course, if all the subscribers are like you, they'll be happy paying more. So no problem

 

[Neiljbp]

Is that like the freeloaders who watch ITV and C4 and pay nothing for it? Or have you overlooked the advertising?

Everyone who works for ITV and C4 gets paid properly.
Every actor and actress gets paid properly.
Even ITV and C4 get paid.

Spotify is very different.
May I ask if you pay for Spotify or music in general. And if not, would you consider doing so.

 

[Neiljbp]

Yes, you're right, the 'crawling, vomit inducing business reason' is that Spotify need 'Freeloaders' to be exposed to the adverts - adverts that subsidise what the payers pay.
If the 'Freeloaders' were 'wiped from the platform' there'd be no adverts and if there were no adverts.....there would be fewer people paying the necessarily higher prices.
Of course, if all the subscribers are like you, they'll be happy paying more. So no problem

People should pay for music, full-stop.
People should pay for train journeys, and they do.
People should pay for food. And they do.
People should not be given everything for nothing.
The business model is clearly wrong and cheapens music.
Do you pay or do you ransack the shop.

 

[nopiano]

Everyone who works for ITV and C4 gets paid properly.
Every actor and actress gets paid properly.
Even ITV and C4 get paid.

Spotify is very different.
May I ask if you pay for Spotify or music in general. And if not, would you consider doing so.

Yes, I subscribe to Qobuz, buy CDs from regular stores and Bandcamp, and the occasional secondhand LP.
If your beef is about the tiny cut the artists get, I have sympathy, and you’ll know it’s complex. But my understanding the big labels handover vast swathes of their catalogues to the likes of Spotify for £millions, but then offer very measly returns to their artists. The newer artists doubtless have provided for streaming revenues in their contract, but older ones have nothing contractually, so feel aggrieved even though their works have been sold in many formats over the years.

 

[Kalavere]

People should pay for music, full-stop.
People should pay for train journeys, and they do.
People should pay for food. And they do.
People should not be given everything for nothing.
The business model is clearly wrong and cheapens music.
Do you pay or do you ransack the shop.

I don't feel sorry for the artists, they aren't starving. Artists make the bulk of their money from gigs and touring. I wouldn't mind touring for 6 months of the year to get 6 months off and earn $40 million.

I subscribe to Qobuz, Tidal and have a Roon subscription going as well as playing and buying CDs still. Gigging is part of an artists job, if you're paying your motrgage with it, you're doing well.

 

[Gray]

Do you pay or do you ransack the shop.

'Ransak the shop' I like you. You're funny.
As it happens, I very (and I mean very) occasionally use Spotify Free. This is because I own all the music I like - and I've paid thousands of pounds for it, so have no need for any streaming service.
Spotify repeatedly e-mail me to get me to use it more. They want me back as a Freeloader which proves your point that it is their (successful) business model. I would suggest that, without it, you might not have Spotify at all.

 

[RebeccaJohnson]

This is sad news