Spotify Introduces New $10.99 Basic Subscription Plan, Excludes Audiobooks

The introduction of Spotify’s new Basic subscription plan has caused quite a stir in the music streaming world. Priced at $10.99 per month, this plan offers a $1 discount for users who don’t need audiobook access, making it an attractive option for music lovers on a budget.

This new plan provides ad-free access to millions of songs and podcast episodes, but excludes the audiobook feature available in the regular Premium Individual plan, which costs $11.99 per month. Spotify explained the price drop by stating that users can “enjoy the music streaming benefits of your Premium plan without the monthly audiobook listening time.”

The launch of the Basic plan comes on the heels of recent price increases for most of Spotify’s existing plans. The Individual plan now costs $11.99 per month, the Family plan is priced at $19.99 per month, and the Premium Duo plan comes in at $16.99 per month.

In addition to the Basic plan, Spotify also offers an audiobooks-only plan for $9.99 per month, providing 15 hours of audiobook listening time. This new Audiobooks Access tier allows Spotify to pay lower music-licensing rates for bundled plans, following a settlement between the NMPA and streaming services.

However, not everyone is thrilled about these new plans. The NMPA recently filed a complaint with the FTC against Spotify, arguing that music-and-audiobook bundles will reduce royalty payments to songwriters and artists. Despite this, Spotify maintains that overall earnings for creators will continue to rise.