LOS ANGELES: Digital music streaming service Spotify is facing criticism after announcing another increase in its premium subscription prices in the United States.
The latest hike has sparked frustration among users, many of whom say the repeated increases are becoming difficult to justify amid growing competition in the music streaming market.
Spotify allows users to listen to millions of songs, podcasts, and audiobooks online. It was launched in 2008 and is available in many countries around the world.
The Individual Plan has risen from $11.99 to $12.99 per month, while the Duo Plan now costs $18.99, up from its previous rate.
The Family Plan increased to $21.99 monthly, and the Student Plan saw a hike to $6.99.
The company defended the move, stating that the additional revenue will be used to enhance features such as offline listening, curate better playlists, expand its music catalogue, and grow its podcast offerings.
Spotify has also continued investing in its recommendation technology, which suggests music tailored to individual user tastes.
However, the sudden price hikes have frustrated many users, who argue that streaming services are becoming prohibitively expensive, especially when juggling multiple subscriptions.
Others acknowledged that while the cost is rising, Spotify’s vast music library and intuitive features remain difficult to match elsewhere.
Industry experts note that price increases are becoming common in the tech and streaming sectors, but caution that Spotify must tread carefully.
Repeated or excessive hikes could drive users to competing platforms. For now, the new pricing structure is firmly in place across the United States.
