Spotify: Difference between revisions
Spotify API restrictions |
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{{ | {{CompanyCargo | ||
| | |Description=Swedish streaming service with a large catalog of music and podcasts. | ||
|Founded=2006 | |||
| Founded = 2006 | |Industry=Music streaming, Podcasting | ||
| Industry = | |Logo=Spotify.png | ||
| | |ParentCompany= | ||
|Type=Public | |||
|Website=https://spotify.com/ | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''{{Wplink|Spotify}}''' is a global music-streaming service founded in 2006 in Sweden by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It allows users to stream music, podcasts, and other audio content via a freemium model, offering both free, ad-supported access and premium subscription services. | '''{{Wplink|Spotify}}''' is a global music-streaming service founded in 2006 in Sweden by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. It allows users to stream music, podcasts, and other audio content via a freemium model, offering both free, ad-supported access and premium subscription services. | ||
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==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
====Freedom==== | ====Freedom==== | ||
Users can request to obtain a copy of and delete their user data through the app and website.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://support.spotify.com/us/article/data-rights-and-privacy-settings/ |title=Data rights and privacy choices |work=Spotify Support |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916033527/https://support.spotify.com/us/article/data-rights-and-privacy-settings/ |archive-date=16 Sep 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to the user guidelines, users cannot share their accounts with others (section 13) or reverse-engineer the Spotify client (section 1).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/user-guidelines/ |title=Spotify User Guidelines |website=Spotify |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907171037/https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/user-guidelines/|archive-date=2025-09-07 |url-status=live}}</ref> | Users can request to obtain a copy of and delete their user data through the app and website.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://support.spotify.com/us/article/data-rights-and-privacy-settings/ |title=Data rights and privacy choices |work=Spotify Support |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916033527/https://support.spotify.com/us/article/data-rights-and-privacy-settings/ |archive-date=16 Sep 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to the user guidelines, users cannot share their accounts with others (section 13) or reverse-engineer the Spotify client (section 1).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/user-guidelines/ |title=Spotify User Guidelines |website=Spotify |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250907171037/https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/user-guidelines/|archive-date=2025-09-07 |url-status=live}}</ref> Users do not own music with Spotify and thus cannot access any of the music without the Spotify client. | ||
====Privacy==== | ====Privacy==== | ||
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====Business model==== | ====Business model==== | ||
For free users, Spotify plays advertisements in-between songs, with those same free users getting 6 song skips per hour and being restricted to shuffle-only play until September 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/778176/spotify-free-user-upgrade-play-specific-songs |title=Spotify’s free users can finally play the songs they want |first=Jess |last=Weatherbed |date=15 Sep 2025 |website=TheVerge |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917210559/https://www.theverge.com/news/778176/spotify-free-user-upgrade-play-specific-songs |archive-date=17 Sep 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> For premium users, the subscriptions cost between USD $11.99 per month for an individual, USD $16.99/m for a duo plan, and USD $19.99/m for a family plan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spotify.com/us/premium/ |title=Spotify Premium (US) |website=Spotify |access-date=17 Sep 2025}}</ref> | For free users, Spotify plays advertisements in-between songs, with those same free users getting 6 song skips per hour and being restricted to shuffle-only play until September 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/news/778176/spotify-free-user-upgrade-play-specific-songs |title=Spotify’s free users can finally play the songs they want |first=Jess |last=Weatherbed |date=15 Sep 2025 |website=TheVerge |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917210559/https://www.theverge.com/news/778176/spotify-free-user-upgrade-play-specific-songs |archive-date=17 Sep 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> For premium users, the subscriptions cost between USD $11.99 per month for an individual, USD $16.99/m for a duo plan, and USD $19.99/m for a family plan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spotify.com/us/premium/ |title=Spotify Premium (US) |website=Spotify |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260128012808/https://www.spotify.com/us/premium/ |archive-date=28 Jan 2026}}</ref> | ||
====Market control==== | ====Market control==== | ||
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On 20 October 2022, security researchers released a report on how they achieved root on the Car Thing, uncovering how the device could potentially be hacked. Spotify responded on 21 October 2022, saying that the product was unsupported, end-of-life, and therefore no bugs would be accepted pertaining to the product.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://oddsolutions.github.io/Spotify-Car-Thing-Root/ |title=Spotify Car Thing - Root and Custom OS toolkit |website=GitHub |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801132952/https://oddsolutions.github.io/Spotify-Car-Thing-Root/ |archive-date=1 Aug 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> The product had gone from its launch to "end-of-life" in the span of 8 months. | On 20 October 2022, security researchers released a report on how they achieved root on the Car Thing, uncovering how the device could potentially be hacked. Spotify responded on 21 October 2022, saying that the product was unsupported, end-of-life, and therefore no bugs would be accepted pertaining to the product.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://oddsolutions.github.io/Spotify-Car-Thing-Root/ |title=Spotify Car Thing - Root and Custom OS toolkit |website=GitHub |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250801132952/https://oddsolutions.github.io/Spotify-Car-Thing-Root/ |archive-date=1 Aug 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> The product had gone from its launch to "end-of-life" in the span of 8 months. | ||
On 23 May 2024, Spotify announced via email to users that support for the Car Thing would end in December of that year, [[Planned obsolescence|rendering the device inoperable]] after that point.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://x.com/mypussyfarts/status/1793679258105348378?mx=2 |title=corndog nipple ring on X |author=@mypussyfarts |date=23 May 2024 |website=X |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https:// | On 23 May 2024, Spotify announced via email to users that support for the Car Thing would end in December of that year, [[Planned obsolescence|rendering the device inoperable]] after that point.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://x.com/mypussyfarts/status/1793679258105348378?mx=2 |title=corndog nipple ring on X |author=@mypussyfarts |date=23 May 2024 |website=X |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708172545/https://x.com/mypussyfarts/status/1793679258105348378?mx=2 |archive-date=8 Jul 2025|quote=what the fuck do you mean stop operating some people actually use the car thing DAILY @Spotify}}</ref> | ||
The Car Thing support page advised Car Thing owners to "contact your state or local waste disposal department to determine how to dispose of or recycle Car Thing in accordance with applicable laws and regulations".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.spotify.com/us/article/car-thing-discontinued/ |title=Car Thing discontinued |work=Spotify Support |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828003549/https://support.spotify.com/us/article/car-thing-discontinued/ |archive-date=28 Aug 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 28 May 2024, a class action lawsuit was filed against Spotify due to a lack of refunds offered for the Car Thing product. | The Car Thing support page advised Car Thing owners to "contact your state or local waste disposal department to determine how to dispose of or recycle Car Thing in accordance with applicable laws and regulations".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.spotify.com/us/article/car-thing-discontinued/ |title=Car Thing discontinued |work=Spotify Support |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250828003549/https://support.spotify.com/us/article/car-thing-discontinued/ |archive-date=28 Aug 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 28 May 2024, a class action lawsuit was filed against Spotify due to a lack of refunds offered for the Car Thing product. | ||
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*Perfect Fit Content (PFC) Program: | *Perfect Fit Content (PFC) Program: | ||
::An internal initiative to seed playlists with AI-generated or low-cost music (''e.g., ambient | ::An internal initiative to seed playlists with AI-generated or low-cost music (''e.g., ambient and jazz'') from Swedish and English producers. These tracks replaced human artists to reduce royalty payouts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The truth about Spotify |url=https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-ugly-truth-about-spotify-is-finally |date=19 Dec 2024 |first=Ted |last=Gioia |website=The Honest Broker |access-date=17 Sep 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250905090427/https://www.honest-broker.com/p/the-ugly-truth-about-spotify-is-finally |archive-date=5 Sep 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
*Fake artist networks: | *Fake artist networks: | ||
::Investigators found twenty individuals operating under 500 aliases (''e.g., Trumpet Bumblefig, Vattio Bud | ::Investigators found twenty individuals operating under 500 aliases (''e.g., Trumpet Bumblefig, Vattio Bud, et al'') generating millions of streams. One obscure Swedish jazz artist outperformed Grammy winning albums.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
::Spotify managers claimed that listeners "wouldn't know the difference" between authentic and PFC tracks upon concerns brought up by other employees.<ref name=":1" /> | ::Spotify managers claimed that listeners "wouldn't know the difference" between authentic and PFC tracks upon concerns brought up by other employees.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
===DMCA notice against ReVanced ''(September 2025)''=== | ===DMCA notice against ReVanced ''(September 2025)''=== | ||
[[File:ReVanced DMCA from Spotify.png|thumb|275px|ReVanced's announcement of the DMCA notice filed by Spotify.]] | [[File:ReVanced DMCA from Spotify.png|thumb|275px|ReVanced's announcement of the DMCA notice filed by Spotify.]] | ||
On 12 September 2025, Spotify filed a [[DMCA]] take-down notice against ReVanced's "Unlock Spotify Premium" patch.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Spotify DMCA notice - Seeking legal help |url=https://revanced.app/announcements/15-spotify-dmca-notice-seeking-legal-help | | On 12 September 2025, Spotify filed a [[DMCA]] take-down notice against ReVanced's "Unlock Spotify Premium" patch.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=12 Sep 2025 |title=Spotify DMCA notice - Seeking legal help |url=https://revanced.app/announcements/15-spotify-dmca-notice-seeking-legal-help |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gIx8d |archive-date=18 Sep 2025 |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |website=ReVanced}}</ref> Spotify alleged that the patch enabled circumvention of its digital protection measures by enabling users to remove advertisements and UI restrictions on the free version of Spotify. This is part of a broader crackdown where Spotify has disabled users from utilizing third-party tools to access its content, such as Grayjay.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date= |title=FMHY-Notes.md • fmhy/FMHY Wiki |url=https://github.com/fmhy/FMHY/wiki/FMHY%E2%80%90Notes.md#android-spotify-note |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251030055834/https://github.com/fmhy/FMHY/wiki/FMHY%E2%80%90Notes.md#android-spotify-note |archive-date=30 Oct 2025 |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |website=GitHub |quote=Android Spotify Note - Keep in mind that Spotify patchers are not currently working for all users in all regions.}}</ref> | ||
Louis Rossmann and ReVanced have proven that the patch only removes client-side restrictions and does not violate 17 U.S. Code § 1201 of the DMCA,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |title=Spotify wants you in prison for skipping lines of code: the revanced case & where I stand |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgFCC9haqB4 | | Louis Rossmann and ReVanced have proven that the patch only removes client-side restrictions and does not violate 17 U.S. Code § 1201 of the DMCA,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=17 Sep 2025 |title=Spotify wants you in prison for skipping lines of code: the revanced case & where I stand |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgFCC9haqB4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://preservetube.com/watch?v=kgFCC9haqB4 |archive-date=18 Sep 2025 |access-date=30 Oct 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> but ReVanced complied with the request regardless and is still aiming to regain the right to host the patch. | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
===Spotify API restrictions=== | |||
On March 9, 2026, Spotify has [https://developer.spotify.com/blog/2026-02-06-update-on-developer-access-and-platform-security implemented significant restrictions on the use of its API] to "enhance platform security and manage developer access more effectively". Main changes: | |||
*'''Development Mode use will require a Spotify Premium account.''' | |||
*Developers will be limited to one Development Mode Client ID. | |||
*Each Client ID will be limited to up to 5 authorized users. | |||
*API access will be limited to a smaller set of [https://developer.spotify.com/documentation/web-api/references/changes/february-2026 supported endpoints]. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||