Spotify is adding a new feature that gives artists and labels more control over what songs are recommended through Spotify’s algorithm.
Both services offer decent free tiers that let users use the service without needing to spend a dime. Of course, be prepared to be blasted with ads if you choose to go this route. Both Spotify and YouTube Music will play ads in between songs which can really get in the way of a good playlist. Spotify is a top-level streaming music service around the world, offering 35 million tracks for the users to listen to. Both the free trial users and the Premium are able to enjoy the massive resource on Spotify. Music is created by artists. Artists need to be paid and Spotify makes sure the artists get paid for the music people stream. On Spotify Premium, users pay money for the artists. On Spotify Free, advertisers pay Spotify money and that money also goes to the artists. It's important that these people get money, so they can keep creating new music. The free, ad-supported version offers a good introduction to the service with no time limit. The Bad Combining your own music files with Spotify's catalog is a complicated endeavour. One “hack” that seems popular is downloading an app which claims to give Spotify Premium for free. Supposedly all you have to do is download the app and then you’ll have access to all the music you want for free. Unfortunately, most of these “free” apps come loaded with viruses.
Spotify Free Is Awful Enough
Basically, it works like this. Artists and labels that control a Spotify profile will be able to list a number of their songs as “priority.” Then, when Spotify’s algorithm starts working through data in an effort to provide listeners with music to listen to, it will look for these songs to see if they match the other signals Spotify uses to deliver curated music to listeners.
The addition of these priority tracks makes sense from an artist’s point of view. This will allow musicians to nudge track recommendations towards songs that have resonated well with listeners, or songs that they feel represents their brand better. Then, hopefully, that leads to more followers and listeners.
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While you’d be justified for thinking that this new service will cost money, it will actually be free for all musicians. But that doesn’t mean that it’s all great. Artists that decide to use this new feature will be subject to “promotional royalty rates,” which would be lower than standard payouts for streams.
Payola, except the bribes go to startup investors instead of local DJs. https://t.co/3H3JSuWrFB
— matt blaze (@mattblaze) November 2, 2020
The music streaming giant has yet to say what this new rate will be, but a lot of people are skeptical of the service. Spotify also notes that the promotional rates are not set in stone, and could change as the service expands.
Spotify is currently testing the feature and notes it will “focus on applying this service to our Radio and Autoplay formats, where we know listeners are looking to discover new music.” The blog post goes on to note that the service could expand to other areas of Spotify, as well.
Spotify Free Is Awful One
What do you think? Do you think this is a good addition to the music streaming platform? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.