I just came across the news, so I thought it could be good to have a chat about this:
Spotify has decided to increase the price of all of its Premium subscriptions in the UK but also in other countries, from yesterday - Monday July 24, 2023.
This news was announced in an official statement: \"In order to continue to innovate, we are modifying our Premium prices in a number of markets around the world. These updates will help us continue to provide value to fans and artists on our platform\".
This is probably not a shocker as loads of other streaming services are upping their prices (Apple and Deezer did the same thing in 2022) but obviously is an important thing to be aware, especially in terms of understanding if any other platform is providing a similar at a lower price.
The new price tiers are already reflected on Spotify's sign-up pages while existing subscribers will get a one-month grace period before the new pricing comes into effect.
These are the new rates - if you choose to subscribe to any of the available plans on-site:
Individual: £10.99 per month
Duo: £14.99 per month (2 accounts)
Family: £17.99 per month (up to 6 accounts)
Students (remained the same in terms of price): £5.99 per month
The obvious tip would be to buy a family plan and then split the cost between the 6 people using the account and the increase is virtually not as \"steep\" as it is pretty much a pound per month, but if you feel like you need to find some alternatives as you are not particularly satisfied with Spotify service, you can either use some \"tricks\" to go around the price increase, or find for an alternative platform to subscribe to.
Another platform that JUST about changed its prices is Amazon Music Unlimited. As you know, you don't need a Prime Subscription to be able to get Music Unlimited and if you are not a Prime Member the price still stands at £10.99 for an Individual account.
Prime Members though will see a £1 increase in the Individual and Family Plans, while luckily the student plan's price will stay the same:
Individual Membership: From £8.99 to £9.99 per month / From £89 to £99 per year Family Plan: From £16.99 to £17.99 per month / From £159 to £169 per year
The company began notifying customers of the pricing change on Wednesday, saying the following: “To help us bring you even more content and features, we’re updating the prices of select Amazon Music Unlimited plans,”
Considering that all other major players in the music streaming industry are applying changes and increasing prices for their offers, it seems only logical that Amazon pulled a similar move and went for it.
The new prices will go into effect immediately for new customers and after September 19 for existing customers, which means that if you signed up with a promotional offer, nothing will change for the remaining time of this promotion. Afterwards the original subscription price for your first full-price billing cycle will be honoured. As of the second full-price billing cycle. your subscription will be changed with the new increased prices.
What are the current alternatives to Spotify and Amazon Music Unlimited that offer a similar service?
APPLE MUSIC 1 Month Free Trial Individual Plans: £10.99 Student Plan: £5.99 with Free Access To Apple TV
YOUTUBE MUSIC PREMIUM 1 Month Free Trial Individual Plan: £9.99 Family Plan (up to 5 accounts): £14.99 Students Plan: £4.99
As you all know, there are always ways to get the subscription in a cheaper way using VPN tricks - so if you want to give it a try this could be a good article to read to make sure you know all the correct steps:
The full list of countries getting a Spotify Premium price increase includes:
Andorra, Albania, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Croatia, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Thailand, Türkiye, United States and Kosovo.
At the moment, the Amazon Unlimited price increase has been confirmed for UK and US customers. If any other country will be involved, I'll report when the news comes out.
In the meantime some helpful links:
If you want to know more, I wrote a little guide about music streaming services - you can find it HERE
","comment":[{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50656241","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Willy_Wonka"},"datePublished":"2023-07-25T15:18:56.000Z","text":"Absolute rip off. All of them.
It is about time one of the offered a pay as you go service at 2 or 3p per track. I have a spotify 2 year contact that I got for $10 but it ends in December.
In all that time I doubt I have listened to more than 250-300 tracks, if that."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50685261","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Dreggman"},"datePublished":"2023-07-29T17:33:23.000Z","text":"For any former Google Play Music users, if you have MP3's on your computer, upload them to iBroadcast, and you can stream them for free on your phone using their app or via webplayer."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50656640","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Mrcrazyman69"},"datePublished":"2023-07-25T16:29:26.000Z","text":"Imagine being a HUKD user and not utilizing VPNs for your subscription services.. absolutely bonkers"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50678349","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Nonamenonumber"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T16:30:53.000Z","text":"As a musician who is destroyed by payouts of streaming services. Anyone moaning about a price hike needs to remember, you're getting nearly the entirity of recorded music available on demand, curated in playlists by countless humans in record master quality. you just don't get that range when you compare other music services.
When Spotify was launched it was a gamechanger"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50675814","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"paulcdf"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T10:40:16.000Z","text":"Used to spend a ridiculous amount on music back in the day - £10.99/month is nothing for something that gets used every single day. More than happy to pay that (plus inflationary increases) for life for music. Oh, and if you use free Spotify with ads (or, God forbid, YouTube...) as your source of music within earshot of other people, they're definitely judging you. Just saying..."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50676512","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"BucketMan"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T12:08:12.000Z","text":"After trying Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and YouTube music, I've just gone back to Internet Radio, there are so many impassioned DJs and great stations/shows/mixes available, that I've never enough time in my life to listen to all. And Radio 3 is about the only personal value I get for the TV licence."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50821371","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Daniel2021"},"datePublished":"2023-08-20T05:43:47.000Z","text":"I think spotify is brilliant value for money I'd never be without it!"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50813378","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"scottswaha"},"datePublished":"2023-08-18T20:35:21.000Z","text":"Been buying all of your cds for 10 a penny at car boots and thrift shops. All the time, you've been laughing at me. I have 8000+ albums that I will have forever."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50656724","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"User552850"},"datePublished":"2023-07-25T16:45:15.000Z","text":"I've been buying Egyptian gift cards for the last 3 years. Latest one was £34.67 / £2.88 a month."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50659540","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"fnorbika"},"datePublished":"2023-07-26T06:22:04.000Z","text":"You can have Spotify premium for free using Spotube app. A bit slower than Spotify itself, but it works. No ads, you can download the music you like. https://spotube.netlify.app/"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50683106","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Mr.Dangle"},"datePublished":"2023-07-29T11:35:09.000Z","text":"As a family each pay for certain family subscriptions and share access. Having tried the other music services they are substandard in comparison to Spotify. "},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50811695","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"damian.hunt"},"datePublished":"2023-08-18T16:07:58.000Z","text":"You tube premium family subscription via Pakistan "},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50664225","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"airbus330"},"datePublished":"2023-07-26T18:19:05.000Z","text":"If anyone is considering Deezer (which I use and is fine) it doesn't work properly with Amazon Echo devices and won't play playlists. (Happy to be corrected if they have finally fixed this issue)"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50664666","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"SnoopZ"},"datePublished":"2023-07-26T19:19:29.000Z","text":"Tidal also doesn't work with Amazon unless it's a US Amazon account, I only wanted it for Android Auto though."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50676098","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"neibenn"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T11:16:02.000Z","text":"I have YT Premium which is £11.99 and gives you ad-free Youtube plus YT Music built it.
Still seems a good deal to me as I use both services a lot. YT Music has a big library and the audio quality has always sounded better to me than when I had Spotify. The mobile app is fine on Android and I just use the desktop extension when on my PC.
You can upload your own music as well and listen to it across devices."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50676977","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"rbjim"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T13:13:39.000Z","text":"If you can't be bothered with vpns etc, tidal are doing 60 days for £2 or £4."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50678932","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"BucketMan"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T17:57:29.000Z","text":"What's the stream quality with Spotify these days? It's not even lossless CD like is it?"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50682828","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Tbdms"},"datePublished":"2023-07-29T10:50:31.000Z","text":"Student price remaining the same is the only reason I won’t be switching over. Spotify is now the same price as Apple Music despite the inferior audio quality and lack of native spatial audio."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50811043","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Ridg"},"datePublished":"2023-08-18T14:31:46.000Z","text":"While it's not an alternative per se, I'm surprised plex hasn't been mentioned; I currently pay for spotify but I also run plex with TB's of music I've legitimately bought that I'll stream while out and about."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50815429","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"tek-monkey"},"datePublished":"2023-08-19T08:53:25.000Z","text":"If you have a family plan can you get alexa speakers to play different music in different rooms?"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50817866","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Levans"},"datePublished":"2023-08-19T14:54:25.000Z","text":"Fildo for everyone on Android 😁
fildo.net/android/en/"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50818509","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"steevio_uk"},"datePublished":"2023-08-19T16:37:23.000Z","text":"I always end up going back to Spotify, but I'm just suggests so frustrated by their terrible algorithm for randomising playlists.
Does anyone else notice this?"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50658675","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Bradders457"},"datePublished":"2023-07-25T21:46:23.000Z","text":"Never seen the issue with paying £9.99 for premium and don't mind the increase. I listen to so many albums and new releases over a year. Way I see it, it's what I'd pay for one of the many CDs I used to buy back in the day so I'm saving an absolute fortune."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50658510","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"themachman"},"datePublished":"2023-07-25T21:18:20.000Z","text":"Worst is, they don't offer any tracks in hi-res or Dolby!
OK they have a good app, but how are they getting away with such low quality in this day and age"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50675614","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"JustaSingh"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T10:11:30.000Z","text":"yt music premium family via India is awesome. This includes Youtube Premium so no more ads on Youtube videos, for upto (think its 5) household members.
If its ok for the likes of megacorps like Google, Amazon, Spotify to move their money around the world to fiddle taxes/costs, then its only fair I copy their pious example "},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50656795","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"MonkeyMan90"},"datePublished":"2023-07-25T16:58:29.000Z","text":"I just use YouTube music via the cheap yt premium sub I find it much better than Spotify."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50659454","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Peesh"},"datePublished":"2023-07-26T05:45:26.000Z","text":"I wonder how much of the extra revenue will get passed on to the actual artists?"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50678332","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Bazallworks"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T16:29:39.000Z","text":"On the one had screw Spotify for profiteering but on the other hand did you really think it was sustainable to have access to almost all of recorded music and unlimited possibilities to consume every hot and interesting new artist for a tenner a month?"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50679231","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"plath"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T18:43:46.000Z","text":"people are so cheap today. Spotify gives you an entire library of music. and algorithms to suggest you new music. as well as numerous curated playlists so you can explore new genres.
for the price of what used to be 1 CD or even a single, per month.
and some people are complaining. all the pleasure people get from unlimited access to music without ads.
£12 a month is too much for that? it's better value than Netflix... stop being cheap. Jesus H Christ. music has value."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50676675","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"skdotcom"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T12:29:54.000Z","text":"The price of streaming is still very inexpensive given the vast amount of music it gives you access to.
I still buy a lot vinyl, and just one LP is more than the Spotify family plan I have.
And the bottom line is, the artists making the music need to be compensated for doing it, otherwise all we will have in the future is generic AI generated dross."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50680884","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"PD2K79"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T23:29:20.000Z","text":"£99 for the year / £8.25 a month with a Spotify gift card - amazon.co.uk/Spo…8-3"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50675751","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"lowrider007"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T10:30:30.000Z","text":"I really wouldn't mind the price increase if they actually offered HD audio quality, we're in 2023 and the quality is still worse than my CD Walkman 20 years ago!!"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50680989","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Eagerbeaver"},"datePublished":"2023-07-29T00:26:43.000Z","text":"It's quite disturbing to see how we've been sucked into these subscription services. Individually, they're really nothing but add them up and it's a lot of money for things we never own."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50686015","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"DJ8"},"datePublished":"2023-07-29T19:49:04.000Z","text":"Streaming is very cheap when you look back to what CD's used to cost. I remember paying £16 for CD's in 1991 onwards as a teenager. Equivalent of £35 in today's money. Now we have an endless supply of whatever we want for £11. I've got hundreds of CD's which have been boxed up for over 10 years, now relatively worthless."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50675977","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"RomeoAlphaKilo"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T10:58:43.000Z","text":"There is no decent alternative to Spotify. It's the only interface that has a low footprint. fast, launches quickly. I've tried all the other apps and when you're on a plane or train you notice the difference. with some other apps underground it wouldn't even open. Excellent recommednations as well."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50676254","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Fade2Grey"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T11:32:16.000Z","text":"And still no HiFi. What a joke"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50676333","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"householdhorror"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T11:43:28.000Z","text":"The £99 voucher on Amazon still says a year.
I don't know if it's just not been updated, or how many years you can stack if it is still fine."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50677886","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"rbjim"},"datePublished":"2023-07-28T15:26:41.000Z","text":"The only issue with the YouTube route is the YouTube music app is horrible."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50685612","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"TeddyBB"},"datePublished":"2023-07-29T18:33:51.000Z","text":"Save money by singing or humming to yourself, you may get some strange looks, but the jokes on them...free music!"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/50822472","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Placemat"},"datePublished":"2023-08-20T09:41:13.000Z","text":"TIDAL via vpn (Argentina) solved this for me."}],"commentCount":466,"interactionStatistic":211,"articleSection":"Misc"}