Spotify users to pay higher subscription fees

SPOTIFY premium users in the Philippines would need to pay more to continue using services of the music streaming platform.

Spotify notified its subscribers of an increase in its premium prices, which would mostly affect those availing student, individual, duo, and family premium plans.

The increase in the subscription fees depend on the plan that a Spotify user is availing. Here is a breakdown of the updated premium subscription fees based on Spotify’s local website:

Individual: P149 per month (from P129)

Duo: P199 per month (from P185)

Family (with six users): P239 per month (from P194)

Student: P75 per month (from P65)

Meanwhile, the subscription cost for Premium Mini stays at P7 per day or P26 per week.

Spotify first announced the increase in its premium subscription rates in July 2023. 

Before the Philippines, the price adjustments took effect in Germany and South Africa on October 2, joining other countries in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Some local subscribers were notified of the price changes upon opening the app. They were told that they will still pay the initial price until their billing date in December — the month that their subscription fee will also increase.

But it is important to note that not all premium users have the same billing date, which depends on the day they subscribed to Spotify services. Users can check their billing dates on their account page.

According to Spotify, current premium users will be given a “two-month grace period” before the new price becomes effective, unless they cancel their subscription before the grace period ends.

The music streaming platform has also sent out emails to several premium users about the upcoming adjustments to their subscriptions. 

According to its email to one family premium plan user, the music streaming platform explained that it increased the price for Premium Family “so that we can continue to invest in and innovate on our product offerings and features, and bring you the best experience.”

While Spotify can be downloaded and used for free, premium users have access to features such as the ability to download music, play songs in any order, and listen to songs with higher sound quality without being interrupted by advertisements.

Premium users react

Spotify premium users Janella Pajilla, Ara Mateo, and Mariel Roja told republicasia that they would still continue availing premium services of the music streaming platform despite the increase in subscription fees.

“Mas maganda yung service ng Spotify. Compared to other streaming sites, especially in discovering new music, madali siya i-access sa Spotify,” Pajila, 22, said.

Mateo, who is availing Spotify premium for students, said that music has become part of her everyday life, which is why she couldn’t cancel her subscription.

“Since naka-student discount po ako, hindi ganon naka-affect sa’kin. Pero syempre sayang pa rin po yung P10,” she said.

But if it’s for her convenience, she said she would be willing to pay the additional P10.

“Convenient pa rin po ‘yung paggamit ng Spotify. I can download a music na kahit offline pwede siya gamitin,” Mateo said.

Roja also doesn’t plan to cancel her subscription anytime soon since Spotify is the most used application in her mobile phone, she said.

“I don’t think I’m ready to let it go yet. I am also earning my own money now so I think I can handle this price increase since it also benefits me,” she added.