Spotify will soon be shifting towards a premium-only, ‘gated access’ model, according to several sources speaking in confidence with Digital Music News over the weekend. The decision will mean that certain releases will only be available to paying Spotify subscribers, or offered for an extremely limited time to non-paying users, according to preliminary details shared.
Sources cautioned that details on what exactly constitutes ‘premium-only’ or ‘gated’ remain unresolved, and a number of variations are in play. In one scenario, free users would only have access to one or two songs from a high-profile album, while paying subscribers could listen to the entire release without restriction.
Another approach would limit content entirely to premium subscribers, though time-restricted exclusives for paying subscribers are also in play.
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despite blow-ups and defections from the likes of Adele, Taylor Swift, and other superstars. But with less than two months left ahead of critical major label renewals, Spotify now appears willing to acquiesce on this critical sticking point.
Many people will go back to illegally downloading if this were to happen.
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The decision comes at an extremely high-pressure moment for Spotify, as major label licenses remain unsigned less than two months ahead of renewal. “October 1, that’s your renewal date for all three of the majors,” another source relayed, referring to the ‘Big Three’ of Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and most importantly, Universal Music Group.
“They do not have signed deals yet, with anyone.”
They have no choice - their words the labels aren't standing for it anymore
