On Sept. 15th, Spotify released an update that rewarded non-Premium members with new privileges. These include unlimited skips, shared queues, and the ability to pick and search for and play individual songs. While many view this as a good change, it has also frustrated those who pay for Premium subscriptions. As a long time Premium-user who listened to over 200,000 Spotify minutes last year, I think I should share how I feel.

Now, I will admit that this update is great for people who either can’t afford or don’t want to pay for Premium because it allows them to have more control of their music by being able to queue up and select songs. However, it makes me feel as if I’m wasting my money; the features included with the new update used to be exclusively Premium benefits. 

But, with the new update, these perks are now accessible to everyone. While I’m glad that people in less fortunate circumstances are able to experience Spotify more seamlessly, it annoys me that what I’m seemingly wasting my hard-earned money on is now giving the same advantages to those who don’t pay money for it. 

Some might argue the worth of Spotify Premium by saying that Premium users are able to connect their queues together. However, with this new update, all listeners can now do that. Other arguments include downloading music, but honestly, that’s more of a burden as you only use it for traveling since most devices don’t need wifi for music and things of that nature anymore. Another Premium feature that could be argued is that spotify premium offers audiobooks, but so does Youtube. Plus, I don’t think I’ve met a single person who actually uses this feature.  

All in all, this Spotify update has led me to believe that Premium members are not paying for anything of substance. Personally, if I didn’t possess a burning hatred for ads, I would’ve canceled my subscription by now.