Spotify brings back lyrics (for good?)
Image credit: charlesdeluvio
Spotify free listeners can see lyrics on songs again, but are they back for good or is Spotify experimenting with lyrics access?
In May, Spotify suddenly dropped their lyrics feature for listeners who weren’t subscribed to Spotify. It was thought that the feature, which allows listeners to view lyrics to songs and track them as the song plays, might be restricted to Premium users now.
However, ad-supported Spotify listeners can now tap into lyrics again as they seem to be back. When Spotify changed lyrics access in May, free streamers were restricted to 3 sets of lyrics a month. Now free users have regained unlimited lyrics access, however not without terms.
Spotify now display a pop-up ad when free users click to view the full lyrics to a track. The user will need to dismiss the ad to view the lyrics. This is a subtle change which shouldn’t impact the free experience too much, but allows Spotify to monetise their platform from free listeners further.
Spotify are clearly testing unique new ways to bolster their profitability from the lagging revenues generated by free use. Spotify must have been testing whether restricting lyrics access would equate to more Premium signups. Generating advertising revenue from access to regular features seems like a safe option to bolster revenues from firmly free users.
Spotify said in a statement: “At Spotify, we’re always testing and iterating. This means the availability of our features can vary across tiers and between markets and devices. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be expanding lyrics availability for Spotify Free users so more people can enjoy viewing more lyrics, globally.”
This means that lyrics may not continue to be available for free users. However, at least for now, free Spotify listeners can tap through an advert to see the lyrics to all of their favourite tracks.
Spotify launched lyrics for all users in 2021. Artists can add their lyrics to Spotify via Musixmatch, after uploading their music to Spotify through RouteNote. Find out more about adding your lyrics to Spotify here.