The Digital Music News is reporting that Spotify is preparing to offer subscriber only content, the first time the service will gate content from free users. Currently subscriber benefits are limited to removing ads from playback and expanded features in the mobile apps.
Some suggestions for how premium content could work include limiting the time frame a new release can be accessed by free users or limiting free users to only a few songs on an album. The Digital Music News theorises that this move coincides with renegotiating licensing deals with Sony, Universal and Warner Bros, all of which expire in October with no new deals in place.
It all leads to free Spotify users getting a reduced level of service in the near future, but after standing strong despite multiple public battles with artists such as Taylor Swift, Prince and Adele the pressure may finally be enough to get Spotify to change their tune.
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