Spotify is increasing US prices again

Price Increases & Inflation

• Some see the hike as simple “inflation alignment,” others argue the percentages exceed current US inflation.
• There’s debate over whether digital services like Spotify are strongly affected by inflation at all.
• A few claim the service is still “dirt cheap and unsustainable”; others say rising prices plus declining UX cross their personal value threshold.

Streaming vs Buying / Ownership

• Multiple commenters compare lifetime subscription costs to buying DRM‑free tracks/albums (Bandcamp, 7digital, Amazon).
• For listeners with narrow or stable tastes, owning music looks cheaper long term; for heavy, exploratory listening, streaming seems more economical.
• Some emphasize control, permanence, and avoiding future lock‑in; others point out the labor, storage, and maintenance costs of owning and self‑hosting.

Discovery, Convenience & Lock-In

• Many value frictionless access, cross‑device syncing, and discovery algorithms, saying they listen to thousands of tracks and constantly explore new artists.
• Others report that recommendation mixes become repetitive “cul‑de‑sacs” and that their discovery needs have declined with age.
• Integration with cars, Sonos, and family usage is a big reason people stay; some acknowledge this deepens dependency over time.

Alternatives & Self-Hosting

• Alternatives mentioned: YouTube Music (often via YouTube Premium), Apple Music (including iTunes Match), Deezer, Tidal.
• Tools like Navidrome + a cheap VPS, plus desktop/mobile clients, are proposed as DIY “Spotify-like” setups, though several note the time, know‑how, and catalog gaps make this a hobby, not a drop‑in replacement.
• Migration tools (e.g., SongShift) can move playlists between services.

Artists, Royalties & Ethics

• Some argue streaming “pays artists pennies”; others note labels receive ~70% of revenue and that streaming is now the majority of industry income.
• A few prefer buying on Bandcamp and supporting artists via merch or shows instead of subscriptions.

Product Direction, UX & Trust

• Many dislike Spotify’s “innovation”: UI churn, podcast and audiobook clutter, missing features (e.g., advanced library management, HiFi tier).
• There’s frustration that prices rise while the core music experience stagnates or worsens.
• Concerns include emotional profiling for ads, lack of podcast controls for kids, and worries about future lock‑in or sudden platform shutdowns.
• Some say they’re cancelling; others consider Spotify a core utility they’ll keep indefinitely.