Spotify faces backlash over updates for free users in India

Spotify, the music streaming giant, is under fire from its free users in India following a series of recent updates that have been met with widespread criticism, with users labeling them as "humiliating" and "greedy".

The latest changes, which have drawn the ire of the platform's non-paying users, severely restrict essential functions, such as shuffle, repeat, and the ability to skip forward or backward within songs. These updates have left many free users dissatisfied, prompting a backlash on social media. Some upset users have even pledged to uninstall the app in protest.

As per Spotify's Q3 results that were announced earlier,  the platform reported a 26% increase in Monthly Active Users, reaching a total of 574 million, which surpasses their guidance by an impressive 2 million users. Subscribers also saw a year-over-year growth of 16%, with the subscriber count hitting 226 million. The company's total revenue demonstrated an 11% year-on-year increase, reaching a substantial 3.4 billion euros.

Notably, earlier this year, Spotify implemented price increases for its premium offerings in select countries, excluding India. The standard subscription now costs $10.99 per month, up from the previous $9.99 rate in the U.S. The company has similarly raised the pricing for Premium Duo, Premium Family, and Premium Student plans, reflecting its strategic shift to adjust pricing in various markets.