Spotify is reportedly testing a new feature that would enable non-paying customers to access music on-demand on mobile devices.
Currently those on the Spotify Free tier can access ad-supported playlists on their smartphones, but cannot choose particular songs.
The new Jump In feature would unlock on-demand access for freeloaders, but only for select playlists according to The Verge.
Related: Can Amazon’s new Unlimited service beat Spotify?
This is likely to delay or completely halt the rollout of Jump In with the labels required to give Spotify special dispensation, the sources said.
The access to on-demand music on mobile is one of the main tenets of Spotify Premium membership, coupled with ad-free listening and offline playlists.
Whether the Jump In feature would act as an incentive for Spotify Free customers to begin handing over cash remains to be seen.
Should Spotify dangle too much Premium content to those users, it might have the opposite effect and encourage subscribers to go free.
It could also anger musicians who’ve agreed a fragile peace with Spotify over offering their catalogues via the Free service, which brings in far less royalty revenue.
It could send more of them scurrying for subscription-only services a la Taylor Swift.
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Would you be annoyed as a Premium subscriber if Free users got to pick and choose their songs in this capacity? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.