2024 could be Spotify’s biggest year in a long time. In anticipation of the eventual launch of Spotify HiFi and its high-definition audio, the company has been developing new features to try to convince users to stick around; including Spotify DJ, an artificial intelligence available only to paying users with Premium.
But we must not forget that Premium users represent only a part of all the people who use Spotify; One of the details that differentiates it from other music streaming services is the possibility of creating a free account, which allows you to listen to the latest hits without having to pay. These accounts have limitations, of course, in addition to include advertising while listening and in the app; But these are sacrifices that many people are willing to accept, and it’s good that Spotify is getting more users who will eventually pay for Premium.
However, late last year, Spotify managed to anger those free account users, with a controversial decision that it reversed today. We’re talking about song lyrics in Spotify, a basic feature that was previously included with all Spotify accounts, but has recently been limited to Premium accounts.
Although it was initially an experiment limited to a few users, Spotify has expanded it over time to more countries and accounts, and each time it has received harsh criticism. The problem is that the lyrics of the songs, which appear at the same time as the song is played, are one of those “basic” features that have always been available on Spotify; but suddenly, non-paying users found a message saying that they had to pay for spotify premium to continue enjoying the lyrics.
Fortunately, today Spotify reversed course, confirming that over the next few weeks all users will be able to see the lyrics of the songs that they play, without the need for a Premium account; Although there are limits on the quantity, this should not affect normal use. The change will be made globally, in all countries, including Europe, although it will take a few weeks to be applied to all free accounts.
Spotify defended the initial change by always trying new things, including making features available across different accounts, countries, and devices. Judging by the reaction of users, it’s clear that on this occasion the company is wrong and will have to continue testing methods to encourage the upgrade to a Premium account.
It’s also worth noting that Spotify has never had more competition than it does today, with alternatives like YouTube Music offering access to more songs and features like song lyrics, completely free.
