Spotify Brings Back Expanded Lyrics Feature for Free Users but With a Monthly Limit: Report

Spotify, the Swedish audio streaming giant, is reinstating a much-requested feature for its free users — the lyrics display. This move comes months after the feature was restricted to Premium subscribers, causing widespread backlash. However, there will be a monthly limit on the number of times free users can access lyrics. This development follows Spotify's announcement of a new "deluxe" subscription tier that promises high-fidelity audio streaming.

Spotify Lyrics Return to Free Subscription Tier

In September 2023, Spotify initially announced that lyrics would be limited for free users. This restriction was met with significant complaints on the service's community forums and social media, particularly in May 2024. Previously, free users could only view lyrics for up to three songs before being prompted to upgrade to Spotify Premium.

Now, Spotify is reversing this decision to some extent. According to a spokesperson's statement to TechCrunch, the platform will gradually reintroduce lyrics for free users worldwide. “Over the coming weeks, we'll be expanding lyrics availability for Spotify free users so more people can enjoy viewing more lyrics, globally”, the spokesperson said.

Monthly Limit on Lyrics Access

While Spotify will not provide unlimited lyrics access for free users, the exact limit remains unspecified. However, a company representative assured 9to5Google that the limit is “higher than anyone would ever reach”. This suggests that the restriction is designed to be generous enough to avoid impacting the typical listening experience of most free users. The feature's rollout is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Spotify's User Base and Recent Developments

Spotify's earnings call for the second quarter of 2024 revealed that it has a total of 626 million active monthly listeners. Out of these, only 246 million are paid subscribers, indicating that more than half of Spotify's user base still relies on the free tier.

In addition to the lyrics feature, Spotify has introduced price hikes for its Premium subscriptions in recent months. In June, the cost of all Spotify Premium plans in the US increased for the second time in a year. The Individual plan now costs $11.99 (roughly Rs. 1,003) per month, up from $10.99 (roughly Rs. 920).

Conclusion

Spotify's decision to reinstate the lyrics feature for free users, albeit with a monthly limit, is a response to user feedback and an attempt to balance feature accessibility with its business model. As the company continues to innovate and expand its offerings, including the introduction of a high-fidelity audio tier, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact its vast user base.

Stay tuned to Kushal Bharat Tech News for the latest updates and in-depth coverage on Spotify and other tech developments.