{"id":106729,"date":"2026-01-05T14:38:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T14:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=106729"},"modified":"2026-01-05T14:38:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T14:38:24","slug":"is-spotify-quietly-phasing-out-its-basic-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/is-spotify-quietly-phasing-out-its-basic-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Spotify quietly phasing out its “Basic” plan?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spotify\u2019s music-only subscription played a key role in the platform\u2019s bundling strategy. Now, it looks like it may be slowly disappearing.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What was Spotify Basic?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spotify<\/a> introduced its Basic subscription plan in 2023, shortly after bundling audiobooks into its Premium Individual, Duo, and Family plans. It offered a music-only subscription for $1 less that didn\u2019t include audiobook access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By bundling audiobooks into Premium, Spotify was able to classify the bundled subscription differently, allowing it to pay lower mechanical royalties to songwriters and publishers. The move sparked protests from subscribers, publishers, and rights owners, especially considering an estimated 99% of Spotify\u2019s US subscriptions fall under the bundled category<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The US Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) even sued Spotify over its Premium bundling strategy<\/a>, focusing on the fact it wasn\u2019t really a bundle. Although the lawsuit was initially dismissed<\/a> in February 2025, the MLC reopened the case<\/a> later the same month, with the issue still very much alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time of the bundling, Spotify\u2019s introduction of a music-only Basic plan was a strategic move. Effectively, it meant that Spotify could argue that Premium really was a bundle plan, while still providing a music-only option for those not interested in audiobooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MLC asks court to reconsider Spotify bundling case dismissal<\/a><\/blockquote>