While Spotify has managed to carve out a niche for itself in the crowded music streaming market by maintaining relatively low subscription fees, that edge is about to slip away. Sources indicate the company will soon increase the cost of its ad-free Premium plan by $1 per month in the U.S – from $9.99 to $10.99.
This price hike comes as competitors like Apple Music and Amazon Music have nudged up their own monthly charges, causing some Spotify subscribers to jump ship. Spotify benefited initially from these moves, but now finds itself following suit to stem further losses and retain customers long-term.
Premium subscribers enjoy an ad-free experience, offline listening, and the ability to play any song on demand. The plan also unlocks high-quality streaming and family/duo subscriptions.
Students still have access to a 50% student discount, making the soon-to-be higher Premium fees slightly more palatable for those in education.
So while $1 more per month for Spotify Premium stings a bit, it’s a reminder that streaming’s “shake up big music” narrative is evolving in unexpected ways. Now even our favorite services must raise prices to keep the music playing.
1 thought on “The Music Streaming Tide is Rising, and Spotify is Raising its Prices to Stay Afloat”