Spotify Technology on Monday raised prices for its premium plans across several countries, including the US and UK, as the music streaming company looks to boost profitability in an uncertain economy.
South Africa is not among countries to see a price increase.
The move will result in a US$1 (R18) price increase for Spotify’s US plans, with the premium Individual plan now starting at $10.99, Duo at $14.99, Family at $16.99 and the Student plan at $5.99.
In South Africa, Spotify costs R59.99/month for the Individual plan, while Duo costs R79.99/month and Family is R99.99/month. There’s also a Mini option available in South Africa, which allows streaming from one account on mobile only for R11.99/month.
Spotify has moved in recent months to boost margins with hundreds of layoffs and a restructuring of the podcast unit, which it had built up with billions of dollars in investment.
The price increases come at a time when streaming services, both audio and video, are under rising investor pressure to boost profitability after years of prioritising user growth.
Rivals services from Apple and Amazon.com and Tidal have all increased prices this year, while YouTube also hiked prices last week on its monthly and annual premium plans in the US for the first time since the subscription service was launched in 2018. None of those plans, with the exception of Apple Music, has seen a price increase in South Africa.
Spotify hikes
Spotify, which had indicated in April that it would raise prices in 2023, had also raised prices in 46 countries last year. The Sweden-based company is due to report its results for the second quarter on Tuesday.
The countries getting price increases are:
- Andorra
- Albania
- Argentina
- Austria
- Australia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cyprus
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- Estonia
- Spain
- Finland
- France
- United Kingdom
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Hong Kong
- Croatia
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Iceland
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Latvia
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Malta
- Mexico
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Portugal
- Serbia
- Sweden
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- San Marino
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- United States
- Kosovo. — Samrhitha Arunasalam, (c) 2023 Reuters, with additional reporting (c) 2023 NewsCentral Media