
As long as you're willing to put up with a few annoying ads every now and then, Spotify has made it totally free to listen to all your favorite music, on-demand. Well, unless you're a fan of Taylor Swift or Adele. (Sorry, friends.) They're just two top-name artists who refuse to stream their songs on the service because of what they say is paltry payment for their work.
A proposed new feature may bring them back to the app—but it might end up costing you money. The Wall Street Journal reports (opens in new tab) that Spotify is considering letting some artists put their albums on the streaming service, but only available to paying subscribers. Then, after the demand has faded a bit, the music would become available to everyone.
Coldplay reportedly asked for this treatment, but the plan fell through. Previously, Swift asked Spotify to wall off her album, 1989, to paid subscribers in the U.S. but keep it free overseas. Spotify said no, and Swift decided to stay off the service entirely, writing in an op-ed (opens in new tab) that "music is art, and art is important and rare. Important, rare things are valuable. Valuable things should be paid for."
Currently, there are more than 20 million premium subscribers, and plans usually cost $9.99 a month. The premium plan (opens in new tab) let you avoid ads, listen to whatever specific song you want, and download music to listen to offline whenever you want. It's unclear if their new "windowed" access plan will ever happen, and what the specific will be, but the company might be hoping that early access to Adele might be worth a few lattes a month.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram (opens in new tab) for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
Megan Friedman is the former managing editor of the Newsroom at Hearst. She's worked at NBC and Time, and is a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism.
-
James Middleton Reveals That Sister Kate Went to Therapy with Him
The third Middleton child, Pippa, also attended therapy to support her brother.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Are Banned from Doing This at Home
It’s a non-negotiable in the Wales’ house.
By Rachel Burchfield
-
Princess Diana’s Personal Letters to Friends During Her Divorce Are Being Auctioned for Charity
The 32-letter collection is both “astonishing” and “confidential.”
By Rachel Burchfield
-
The 56 Best Musical Movies of All Time: Iconic Movie Musicals
All the dance numbers! All the show tunes!
By Amanda Mitchell
-
The 21 Best Album Releases of 2022 (So Far)
Get your headphones out.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
48 Last-Minute Father's Day Gifts to Scoop Up
He'll never even know you left it until now.
By Rachel Epstein
-
The 50 Best Love Songs of All Time
The best, most romantic love songs ever written, spanning every genre.
By Gabrielle Ulubay
-
4 Best Sad Songs of 2022 to Play When You're in Your Feels
New songs from Maren Morris, Iann Dior, and more.
By Marie Claire
-
5 Best Love Songs of 2022 (So Far)
Raise your hand if you're very much here for the Avril Lavigne renaissance!
By Rachel Epstein
-
The 16 Best Sad Songs of 2021 to Play When You're Feeling Down
Not me still listening to "Drivers License" on repeat!
By Rachel Epstein
-
The 31 Best Love Songs of 2021
"I still burn for you." —Avril Lavigne and also Daphne Bridgerton.
By Rachel Epstein