Spotify has made a significant U-turn, restoring full access to lyrics for its free tier users. This decision comes after a backlash from listeners earlier this year when the company implemented a restriction limiting lyric views to just three songs per month for non-subscribers.
Free Spotify Users Can Read Lyrics Without Paying
(Photo : Sebastiaan Chia from Unsplash)
Spotify users should have a premium subscription to access the lyrics. However, a new test allows even free users to see the lyrics for any track.
The initial move to gate lyrics behind a paywall sparked widespread criticism. Many users expressed disappointment over the change, arguing that it was a step back for the platform. In response to the negative feedback, Spotify appears to have reconsidered its strategy.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek acknowledged the company's focus on improving the free tier experience during a recent earnings call. While the exact reasons for the reversal are unclear, it's evident that user satisfaction played a crucial role in the decision.
"At Spotify, we're always testing and iterating. This means availability of our features can vary across tiers and between markets and devices. Over the coming weeks, we'll be expanding Lyrics availability for Spotify Free users so more people can enjoy viewing more lyrics, globally," a Spotify spokesperson told Engadget.
Related Article: Spotify to Launch More Expensive Premium Plan for $5 More Per Month - What's New?
Is There a Catch Here with This Perk?
According to 9toMac's report on Wednesday, July 31, since reading lyrics is a paywall feature on Spotify, there's still a need to limit free users. This was what we previously knew.
While they can hum through the words with their favorite songs, only three songs per month are allowed. Now, this limitation is being ditched by the Swedish streaming giant for all free users.
Still, there's no known catch with this surprising perk. However, the only thing that will hold you back is the endless shuffle which you can only stop if you are a premium subscriber.
This move to reinstate unlimited lyric access for free users is a win for music lovers everywhere. It demonstrates Spotify's commitment to providing a valuable listening experience for all users, regardless of subscription status.
What About the Hi-Fi Subscription?
Tech Times reported that Ek revealed the potential price of the Spotify Hi-Fi subscription plan. According to the company's CEO, it would be around $20 per month.
If this is true since it's already coming from the mouth of the tech boss, this would be the priciest price for any Spotify subscription in this current state.
The Hi-Fi tier is treated as the "deluxe" version of the platform. Nothing much is revealed by Ek at the time, but we expect to hear more information from him in the coming months. If it fares well in its early days, it could surpass other lossless audio service providers.
Read Also: Spotify Premium Hit with Major Price Hikes in the US for Second Year in a Row
