Spotify to allow selected artists to release albums to paid subscribers only
Spotify will for the first time enable selected artists temporarily withhold their latest albums from music streaming services 80m free users and offer them exclusively to paid subscribers only in a concession to music executives.
The change in stance has been reported by the Wall Street Journal although the identity of the artists involved has not yet been disclosed.
Spotify has been facing a revolt from some artists in recent months over its position with bands such as Coldplay deciding not to release their latest album on the service in a dispute over its requirement that all content be made freely available to all users.
This followed a decision by Taylor Swift to withdraw her entire catalogue from Spotify last year and block her ‘1989’ album from appearing on any streaming service amidst concern it was eating into sales.