Spotify Ends Shuffle-Only Era, Grants Free Users On-Demand Song Selection

Spotify has announced a significant overhaul of its free tier, finally allowing non-paying users to select and play specific songs on demand. This major update, rolling out globally, addresses one of the most persistent frustrations for free listeners who were previously confined to a shuffle-only experience with limited skips.

Previously, free users attempting to play a specific track from an album or playlist would be met with a randomized order, often forcing them to skip through songs until they found their desired choice, with skips capped at six per hour. Now, according to Spotify, users can “pick and play any song you want.”

While this marks a substantial improvement, some restrictions remain. Free users will still encounter advertisements, and there’s a daily allocated amount of on-demand listening time. Once this limit is reached, the previous six-skips-per-hour restriction will re-apply. A Spotify spokesperson confirmed that only Premium subscribers retain complete, unrestricted control over playback and skipping.

This strategic move is expected to enhance the free user experience, making Spotify more competitive against rivals like YouTube Music, especially for those who wish to share specific music links on social media. The update aims to make the platform more appealing and user-friendly, potentially encouraging more engagement from its vast free user base.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.