Spotify has updated its free terms of service to allow users to search for and play specific tracks without using shuffle, the first significant relaxation of restrictions for its free audience in years.
Spotify has updated its free terms of service to allow users to search for and play specific tracks without using shuffle, the first significant relaxation of restrictions for its free audience in years.
Spotify says the changes are already rolling out globally. Previously, non-subscribers could only play albums or playlists in random order, with a maximum of six skips per hour. Now, you can immediately select the song you want, although the player will then go into shuffle mode.
The company notes that direct playback has a daily limit. When it is exhausted, the standard rule returns — restrictions on skips and commercials between tracks. According to Spotify, this should make the service more convenient and encourage people to share links to songs on social networks more often.
At the same time, free users have received additional features for personalizing listening. In particular, you can now create your own playlists and customize covers — choose a photo, color, or text style to reflect the «vibe» of the selection. The proprietary daylist algorithm, which takes into account mood and time of day, is also available without a subscription: the selection is updated several times a day, adapting to the user.
The free version update coincided with the release of lossless audio for Premium users, a feature that music lovers have been waiting for for a long time. Thus, the company is expanding its offer to two audiences at once: free accounts, which have become more convenient for listening to music, and paid subscribers, who have received maximum sound quality. Against the background of competition from YouTube Music and Apple Music, where direct playback was previously available, this move could help Spotify reduce listener churn and strengthen its position in the market.
As we previously reported, dev.ua reported that Spotify has added messaging to its app, taking another step toward transforming from a streaming service into a social platform. The new tool allows users to communicate directly within the app and discuss music and podcasts.
