The new 'Smart Shuffle' mode will now be the default mode for free users. (File Photo)
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Spotify users in India will no longer be able to rewind, scrub & repeat songs without premium subscription
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Spotify music streaming service has decided to lock certain features behind paywall in an attempt to increase Premium subscribers in India. Users who are on the free tier of Spotify will no longer be able to rewind scrub or repeat songs.
According to a recent report by TechCrunch, the Sweden-based music streaming service will also limit the ability to rearrange songs in a playlist. Spotify also told the publication that India is one of the top 5 countries when it comes to monthly active users, but the majority of users are still on the free ad-supported tier.
The company said it is making these changes because the Indian market has matured now and it plans to shift towards a subscription model. The streaming service is also bringing the ‘Smart Shuffle’ to India. Launched earlier this year, the new feature automatically suggests music based on your preferences and the song or playlist you are listening to. But those on the free tier won’t be able to disable the feature.
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Spotify is not the first music streaming service in India to encourage users to switch from a free to a paid subscription. Last year, the popular Tencent-backed music service – Gaana ditched its free tier and switched to a subscription-based model.
Even though Spotify has increased subscription prices in several countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany, the company seems to have no plans to increase the price for its Premium membership. Earlier this year, the platform crossed the 50 million active monthly users mark, with premium subscribers accounting for most of the company’s revenue.
