Spotify: Difference between revisions
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==Summary of anti-consumer practices== | ==Summary of anti-consumer practices== | ||
===Micro Payments per Stream=== | ===Micro Payments per Stream=== | ||
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::Spotify was accused of taking payments from labels to prioritize songs in playlists, mimicking payola scandals without transparency.<ref name=":1" /> | ::Spotify was accused of taking payments from labels to prioritize songs in playlists, mimicking payola scandals without transparency.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
===Voice & environment surveillance patent=== | |||
<blockquote>The audio signals may be recorded in real-time, or may correspond to previously-recorded audio signals... | |||
For example, such metadata might include an emotional state...... in one example aspect, the content metadata indicates an emotional state of a speaker providing the voice.</blockquote>Back in 2021, Spotify was granted US patent 10891948 B2 for ''"identification of Taste Attributes from an audio signal"[[:File:US10891948.pdf]] .'' This describes tech that: | |||
#analyzes what users say | |||
#Analyzes background noise to determine where you are(bus stop, coffee shop, home, etc) | |||
#Scores incoming data to guess a user's mood or emotional state. | |||
The patent describes listening to birds chirping, printers printing, cars on a street. This technology enables Spotify to create detailed profiles of their users' activities, how they feel, and social interactions without users understanding that their data is being collected in this way. | |||
This is marketed as a music recommendation system. The patent demonstrates that Spotify's capabilities go far further than music taste evaluation, with the ability for personal surveillance. | |||
According to a statement Spotify gave at news media they are not currently using this in their service, however they have not committed to never using this technology on their service.<ref>{{cite web |last=Heater |first=Alex |title=Spotify is patenting a surveillance system disguised as a music recommendation engine |url=https://www.soundguys.com/spotify-surveillence-patent-51768/ |website=SoundGuys |date=2021-04-14 |access-date=2025-06-16}}</ref> | |||
===Price Hikes and Subscription Exploitation=== | ===Price Hikes and Subscription Exploitation=== | ||
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*Forced Price Increases: | *Forced Price Increases: | ||
::Under pressure from record labels (''e.g., Universal Music''), Spotify raised U.S. prices by 31% for duo plans and 25% for family plans (2023–2024). Similar hikes occurred in 50+ markets. | ::Under pressure from record labels (''e.g., Universal Music''), Spotify raised U.S. prices by 31% for duo plans and 25% for family plans (2023–2024). Similar hikes occurred in 50+ markets. | ||
*Label Profit Extraction: | *Label Profit Extraction: | ||
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:Despite recent profitability, Spotify relies heavily on price hikes, algorithmic manipulation and royalty suppression. These anti consumer practices come out of a profit-driven business model which prioritizes labels and shareholders over artists and listeners. The PFC program epitomizes Spotify's continued fight agianst musicians. Regulatory intervention—like the EU's antitrust actions—remains critical to force transparency and fairness. | :Despite recent profitability, Spotify relies heavily on price hikes, algorithmic manipulation and royalty suppression. These anti consumer practices come out of a profit-driven business model which prioritizes labels and shareholders over artists and listeners. The PFC program epitomizes Spotify's continued fight agianst musicians. Regulatory intervention—like the EU's antitrust actions—remains critical to force transparency and fairness. | ||
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===Car Thing=== | ===Car Thing=== | ||