Spotify has once again raised the price of Spotify Premium in the United states, marking the third time since 2023 that the streaming giant has bumped the monthly fee. From February, Spotify Premium for individuals will cost $13 a month, with the increase going into effect on the next billing cycle.
Spotify Premium began life in the US for $10 a month and remained that way until July 2023 when Spotify first bumped the price by a dollar. It happened again in July 2024 and 18 months on we’re getting another. So that’s a 30% increase in price in under three years.
“We’re updating the price of Spotify. Over the next month, Premium subscribers across the U.S., Estonia, and Latvia will receive an email explaining what this update means for their subscriptions. New subscribers can find the latest pricing by visiting spotify.com/premium,” a post on the Spotify For the Record blog.
“Occasional updates to pricing across our markets reflect the value that Spotify delivers, enabling us to continue offering the best possible experience and benefit artists.”
Brits will share the pain of their American music loving counterparts. In October, Spotify raised prices on UK Premium subscribers in both 2024 and 2025.
Spotify often cites that the price increases are to benefit the artist community, but presumably this isn’t musicians. The company has invested unfathomable amounts into celebrity video and audio podcasts – like $250 million to conspiracy theory enthusiast and all-round blowhard Joe Rogan – audiobooks that users can get everywhere else.
For musicians, Spotify is considered among the lowest-payers per-stream for artists, with tidal among the highest. It takes about 1,000 streams for an artist to earn around $3 on Spotify for instance.
Spotify doesn’t publish its rate publicly, but there’s also been no public acknowledgement that royalty rates have risen in line with price increases. The motivation isn’t benefitting artists. Just check out the reaction of Wall Street-friendly publications.
Barron’s says ‘Spotify price hike could be the catalyst its stock needed’. Nice one, lads. Always looking out for the little guy.
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