When Bloomberg reported that Spotify would be upping the cost of its premium subscription from $9.99 to $10.99, and including 15 hours of audiobooks per month in the U.S., the change sounded like a win for songwriters and publishers. Higher subscription prices typically equate to a bump in U.S. mechanical royalties — but not this time.

By adding audiobooks into Spotify’s premium tier, the streaming service now claims it qualifies to pay a discounted “bundle” rate to songwriters for premium streams, given Spotify now has to pay licensing for both books and music from the same price tag — which will only be a dollar higher than when music was the only premium offering. Additionally, Spotify will reclassify its duo and family subscription plans as bundles as well.

  • John Richard@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    We don’t deserve music for other reasons too… like we don’t care what the lyrics are even about as long as it “sounds good.”

    • Bluefalcon@discuss.tchncs.de
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      6 months ago

      What are you talking about?

      Thought of calling ya
      But you won’t pick up
      Another fortnight lost in America
      Move to Florida
      Buy the car you want
      But it won’t start up
      Til you touch, touch, touch me

      Those are lyrics written by an actual God.