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Summary
- Spotify Premium remains ad-free despite a recent glitch causing some ads for users.
- Rumors suggest a possible future two-tier model forcing current Premium users to opt-out of ads or pay more.
- Spotify confirms commitment to an ad-free Premium experience amidst speculation about including ads at all levels.
What makes Spotify Premium a no-brainer for music lovers is its smooth, ad-free listening experience. But recently, a weird glitch in the app threw some ads into the mix, showing that even top-tier music streaming platforms can trip up sometimes. That hiccup made some people think that ads were about to become a regular part of Premium. Spotify has now clarified that Premium is still ad-free, and it’s not changing that anytime soon.
Recently, Spotify has been in the spotlight after some Premium users started hearing ads even though they pay to skip that stuff. The company was quick to explain it away as a temporary glitch, promising things would be back to normal soon. Still, everyone is now watching to see if this was just a hiccup or the first crack in the Premium promise.
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Some folks think Spotify might pull a move like Amazon Prime Video. As per rumors, when the Music Pro or Hi-Fi tier arrives, current Premium users could be forced to choose: stick with ads at the same price, or cough up extra cash to keep things ad-free.
On Tuesday, Spotify finally stepped in to shut down the buzz (via Android Authority). Posting on X, the company said Spotify is sticking to its word and that Premium stays ad-free.
Spotify runs on a freemium setup where free users get music with ads. But if you’re paying at least $11.99 a month for Premium, you get the real perk of nonstop, ad-free listening.
Nobody really knows where the ad-rumor started, but it raises a bigger question: Why shouldn’t music streaming slap ads on paid tiers? After all, video platforms like Netflix and Prime Video are already dropping ads into basic paid plans and saving the ad-free stuff for their top-tier (and pricier) options.
So what makes music different? Some industry players might be eyeing that same playbook, wondering if they’re leaving money on the table by keeping Premium ad-free.
One big hurdle keeping Spotify—and other streaming services—from adopting a two-tier model like video platforms is the lack of higher-priced plans that could justify an ad-free experience. But that’s about to change with Spotify’s upcoming ‘Music Pro’ tier, expected later this year. This could set the stage for an overhaul, giving Spotify (and others) the chance to clearly separate premium, ad-free options from cheaper, ad-supported ones.
