Spotify confirms no ads coming to premium
Spotify has confirmed that it’s Premium tier will stay ad-free despite the rumors. Here’s what actually went down.
If you’ve seen rumours online suggesting that Spotify Premium might start including ads, breathe easy. Spotify has officially shut down the rumor, assuring subscribers that Premium will remain ad-free for music listening.
On Tuesday, Spotify took to X (formerly Twitter) to set the record straight, writing:
“There is a rumor circulating that Spotify is putting ads into premium music listening. This rumor is false. Premium music listening is and will remain ad-free.”
It was a direct, no-nonsense response to growing speculation that the streaming giant was changing course on one of its most long-standing features: uninterrupted, ad-free music for paying subscribers.
Where did the rumors come from?
The confusion seems to have started a couple of months ago when some Spotify Premium users began reporting that they were hearing ads during music playback, something that, understandably, didn’t sit well with those paying for an ad-free experience.
Spotify acknowledged those complaints back in February and clarified that the issue wasn’t a feature, it was a glitch. In some cases, Premium accounts weren’t syncing properly with Spotify’s ad systems, mistakenly treating subscribers as free users. The company issued guidance at the time recommending that users log out and back in, which generally resolved the problem.
Still, the incident left enough users unsettled to fuel speculation that Spotify might be testing or preparing to introduce ads across the board, even for paying users. That theory was enough to cause a bit of a stir online, prompting the company to issue a firm denial this week.
What does “Ad-Free” mean?
To be clear, when Spotify says Premium music listening is ad-free, it means exactly that: no audio or visual ads in your music experience.
That said, there’s a bit of nuance when it comes to podcasts. Some Premium users may still hear ads or sponsorship messages during podcasts, especially if they’re created and inserted by the podcast hosts or networks themselves. These are outside Spotify’s direct control and are part of how many creators monetize their content.
But as far as your music is concerned, whether it’s a curated playlist, your favorite album, or a morning commute mix, you can rest assured that Spotify isn’t about to interrupt it with a mid-track promo.
One of the main reasons people subscribe to Spotify Premium is to get away from ads. That’s been the case since the service launched its subscription tier, and for many users, it’s what justifies the monthly fee. Even minor confusion around this policy naturally gets people talking, and occasionally panicking, about whether their Premium perks are changing.
Spotify stepping in quickly to address the rumors is a good sign that the company understands how important ad-free listening is to its paying user base.
And with increasing competition from platforms like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music, all of which also offer ad-free subscription tiers, keeping Premium clean and uninterrupted is more than just good customer service. It’s a key part of staying competitive.