Here comes the cuts and this time it's not courtesy of Cameron and his chums but in fact, Spotify. In a move that we were all expecting (just not this soon) Online music service Spotify is halving the amount of free music that users can listen to.
Spotify Cut Free Model in Half
If you're not a hardcore user you may not have noticed that currently the free service is limited to 20 hours of music per month but now in a ruthless cut the limit will be halved leaving music lovers with a 10 hour limit and in another infuriating move Spotify has decided that it will start capping the amount of times users can listen to individual tracks. When the all new Spotify legislation comes into effect, users will only be able to listen to individual tracks five times per month. Say goodbye to the days of listening to your favourite summer songs on repeat.
Spotify Fans Are Angry…
Angry fans have accused the firm of seeking to change its model from free to paid. The firm denies this, but I'm with the fans. Just because millions of people user Spotify doesn't mean that it's a successful model. The guys in Spotify HQ don't give a damn about music or music consumers, it's a business at the end of the day and money is all that matters.
What is the Future of Spotify Free?
With the US release being an utter nightmare it's been made clear that (at least outside of Europe) the advertisement funded free version is not a viable model. I'm absolutely certain that the free version will be gone in a few years. You can see this everytime your track is interrupted by idiots with grating voices begging you to switch to premium. Now the cuts. They'll keep make the lives of free users Hell until they eventually switch to premium.
What Does This Mean for Streaming?
So what does this mean for streaming? Will people by pushed away but cuts? A minority certainly will and no doubt a competitor will emerge to draw in the cheap skates spat out by Spotify. But the big S is firmly grounded on the consciousness of the music industry now and it's not going to go away. Ultimately we are helpless streaming is the future and Spotify is streaming, that's why they'll get away with it.