Spotify Restores Lyrics Feature to Free Tier Amid Ongoing User Backlash

Spotify, the Swedish audio streaming service, is reintroducing a feature that had previously been removed from its free tier and placed behind a paywall. This feature, which allows users to view lyrics, is making a comeback for those without a subscription, though with a monthly usage limit. The decision comes after significant backlash and comes on the heels of Spotify announcing its plans for a new subscription tier offering high-fidelity audio streaming.

Back in September 2023, Spotify announced it would restrict lyrics access for free users, leading to widespread complaints on community forums and social media by May of the same year. After this change, free users who exceeded a limit of three songs needed to subscribe to Spotify Premium to continue viewing lyrics.

A spokesperson from Spotify spoke to TechCrunch, confirming the return of the lyrics feature for non-premium users. They mentioned that in the coming weeks, Spotify would broaden the availability of lyrics for free users worldwide, enabling more people to enjoy the feature.

Despite this, unlimited access to lyrics will still require a premium subscription. Although the company did not specify the exact limit, a representative mentioned to 9to5Google that the number is "higher than anyone would ever reach." The rollout of these changes is expected to take place over the next few weeks.

During the second quarter of 2024, Spotify's earnings call revealed that the service has a total of 626 million active monthly listeners, with only 246 million being paid subscribers. This indicates that more than half of Spotify's user base remains on the free tier.

In recent months, Spotify has also instituted a price increase. In June, subscription costs for all Spotify Premium plans in the US rose for the second time in 12 months. The Individual plan now costs $11.99 per month, up from $10.99.