Spotify announces price hikes less than a year after its last ones.

Spotify is officially raising its Premium subscription rates in the US come July, following reports of the move in April. The platform is increasing its Individual plan from $11 to $12 monthly and its Duo plan from $15 to $17 monthly — the same jump as last year’s $1 and $2 price hikes, respectively. However, its Family plan is going up by a whopping $3, increasing from $17 to $20 monthly. The only subscribers getting a break are students, who will continue to pay $6 monthly.

Spotify announced the price hikes less than a year after its previous one last July. Before that, Spotify hadn’t raised its fees since launching a decade and a half ago. I guess it was too optimistic to hope the next increase would also take that long, especially with Spotify’s continued focus (and money dump) on audiobooks.

Premium subscribers should receive an email from Spotify in the next month detailing the price hike and providing a link to cancel their plan if they would prefer to do so. Users currently on a trial period for Spotify will get one month at $11 after it ends before being moved up to a $12 monthly fee.

  • dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    6·
    5 months ago

    I switched to Tidal recently from AppleMusic and I like it.

    It should be noted if you’re listening through Bluetooth like most people then you can’t get high quality.

    Also, they allow you to copy your music from other services, using a third party service which was great. It does have a charge and annoyingly it is a recurring charge. So I signed up, transferred my music and then cancelled.

    I then sent them a message to say it sucks that they don’t have a one of few for doing this. If you use it and agree I would send them a similar message so they get the idea that most people don’t need continuous syncing.

    • filcuk@lemmy.zipEnglish
      4·
      5 months ago

      The bluetooth remark is a bit misleading, there are codecs that provide better audio, which is even noticeable on Spotify.
      If you have earphones that support LDAC for example (sony XMs are popular where I live), you can even use that with Windows via 3rd party software (search Win A2DP - not free, but can recommend).

      • TheOakTree@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        5 months ago

        FiiO BTR5 + LDAC + IEMs have been working super well for me. I don’t really use wireless with Windows, but I’m considering payiny for A2DP regardless, as it worked very well and may come in handy eventually.

        • filcuk@lemmy.zipEnglish
          3·
          5 months ago

          They’re all proprietary, so it’s less than ideal.
          LDAC is owned by Sony and supported by some Androids.
          Samsung has their own codec, Apple does too - each vendor locked.
          Then there’s Qualcomm’s aptX/HD, which should now be fully supported by Android.

          I don’t use apple, so can’t comment on other options there.

    • riodoro1@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      I fucking hate what apple music has become. Their clients are a complete disaster. Im gradually switching to tidal and the only thing that pisses me off is an ad for waze that comes up while you’re driving which cannot be disabled.

      • dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        1·
        5 months ago

        Im torn as I listen to many genres and one of them being Classical Music. Apple having a dedicated app for that is a major plus, so I imagine I’ll be going back at some point. Although I do agree the regular music app is not great.

        In fact I love using iPhone as I geek out with my job but I want my phone to be stress free, just I don’t use many Apple stock apps.

    • KairosEnglish
      1·
      5 months ago

      What the fuck kind of service is that? Aren’t there free ones—there were the last time I checked.