Spotify just introduced a new subscription tier designed for those who prioritize music streaming and don’t care about audiobooks. This “Basic” plan brings back the familiar $10.99 monthly price tag, a welcome sight after Spotify’s recent price hike on their standard Premium Individual plan.

for $10.99 a month, you’ll get everything you know and love about Spotify Premium – ad-free music streaming, on-demand listening, and the ability to download songs for offline playback. However, unlike the standard Premium plan which now costs $11.99, the Basic tier excludes the 15 hours of monthly audiobook listening time that was previously bundled in.

This move by Spotify suggests a two-fold strategy. Firstly, it acknowledges a demand for a more affordable music-only option. Remember, Spotify’s base price in the US used to be a cool $9.99 for years, but that changed last year. Now, with the introduction of Basic, budget-conscious music fans can once again access Spotify’s premium features at a price point that aligns with competitors like Apple Music and Tidal.

Secondly, the Basic plan creates a clearer distinction between music and audiobooks on Spotify. Previously, the $10.99 price (which is now the cost of Basic) included both music and audiobooks. Now, if you’re primarily interested in audiobooks, Spotify offers a separate $9.99 “Audiobooks Access” tier. However, this plan comes with a trade-off: you’ll have to endure ads while listening to music.

In essence, Spotify is catering to a more segmented audience. The Basic plan is ideal for those who solely crave ad-free music streaming, while the Premium Individual plan retains its value for users who enjoy both music and audiobooks. And for the audiobook enthusiasts, the Audiobooks Access tier offers a dedicated option, albeit with ad-supported music playback.