Is Spotify about to ditch lyrics for free users?

If you’re a Spotify user who enjoys jamming out to your favorite tunes while reading the lyrics on the app, you might want to brace yourself for a potential change. Spotify is currently testing a controversial move: making lyrics exclusive to its Premium subscribers.

For those of us who rely on the free ad-supported tier, you might have noticed something missing recently. Yep, those in-app lyrics that used to pop up at the bottom of your screen when a song started have mysteriously disappeared. Instead, you’re greeted with a message suggesting you “enjoy lyrics on Premium” along with an invitation to subscribe to the premium service.

So, what’s going on here? Spotify has confirmed that they’re trying this out with a limited number of users in different markets. Whether this change sticks or not depends on how it plays out. If more people on the free tier decide to upgrade to Premium because of this move, Spotify may keep it. However, if there’s a significant backlash from free-tier users, they might scrap the idea.

But why is Spotify doing this in the first place? Well, it’s all about the money. Spotify recently reported a loss in its last financial quarter, and they’re feeling the pressure to turn a profit. Part of the problem has been their big investments in podcasts, which haven’t quite paid off as expected. Plus, they had to shell out for severance payments after laying off 6% of their workforce earlier this year.

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Don’t panic just yet, though. This change isn’t set in stone. We’ll have to wait and see how it pans out.

For those of you in the U.S., here’s the lowdown on Spotify Premium pricing: an Individual account costs $10.99 per month, the Duo option for two people living together is $14.99 per month, a Family account for up to six people is $16.99 per month, and students can snag Premium for $5.99 per month. The free tier comes with a few limitations on the mobile app, like shuffle mode only and a maximum of six skips per hour, but the desktop version gives you a more complete experience with the occasional ad.

And don’t forget, Spotify often has special deals and free trials. Right now, new Individual accounts can get the first three months for just $10.99, basically giving you two months of premium access for free.