Spotify Makes U.S. Debut With Paid Plans and Invite-Only Free Service

Streaming music firm Spotify today announced the immediate launch of its beta phase offerings in the United States, debuting as an invitation-only free service paired with two different paid tiers: Unlimited at $4.99/month and Premium at $9.99/month.

spotify premium unlimited
The Spotify app for iPhone [App Store] is also now live in the U.S. App Store, and a subscription to the Premium service is required for mobile device access.

During our invite-only beta phase, we'll be offering three great services - from absolutely free to paid subscriptions. The services we're launching today are:

- Spotify Free - the unsurpassed free music service. With an invite, enjoy on-demand, buffer-free access to over 15 million songs on your computer and great social features. Manage your own music files through Spotify, and sync with your cellphone or iPod. Features occasional advertising.

- Spotify Unlimited - all the special features of our free service, but with uninterrupted, ad-free access to Spotify on your computer. All for only $4.99 a month.

- Spotify Premium - the top-of-the-range Spotify experience. Premium gives you access to all the music, all the time. Listen online or offline, on your computer, your cellphone and a whole heap of other devices. Enjoy enhanced sound quality and access to exclusive content, competitions and special offers. Premium costs just $9.99 a month. (That's the equivalent of a couple of fancy coffees.)

Spotify's free service is debuting in the U.S. with exclusive ad partners Coca-Cola/Sprite, Chevrolet, Motorola, Reebok and Sonos, who are said to be developing specific and innovative ad campaigns for the platform.


Spotify has seen a fair amount of success in Europe, but the service's much-anticipated U.S. launch has been delayed several times as the company sought to acquire approvals from the major record labels. Those pieces began falling into place over the past few weeks, enabling Spotify to finally bring its offerings to the United States.

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Top Rated Comments

TWSS37 Avatar
183 months ago
I understand this look awesome from consumer perspective, but how is this really a sustainable business model?

Sorry but I don't see it getting too far in the USA.

Just because a paid music sevice that isn't offered by Apple doesn't mean it's destined for failure.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
joe8232 Avatar
183 months ago
The US seem to have it very lucky, the prices are the same in $ as they are in £ for us in the UK. Unfair :(
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TWSS37 Avatar
183 months ago
Show me where i was talking about failure? I'm asking how this is a sustainable business model that's all. Quit smoking, pal.

How is a non sustainable business model anything OTHER than failure?

Example: If I take in less money than I bring in, I am "losing" money. "Lose" too much money, and my business will be forced to close. After closing, I realize since my business model was not sustainable, my business was a failure.

This isn't difficult.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
janjarfalk Avatar
183 months ago
Go nuts!

Here are a couple of invites for you.

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e6SsBaZFXy4eH3cU
eYq5sfUhquRedU8B
aSz73mPDB2JTwz3S
cPd49L32VSPqFLXP
cRrPx8URqTRydwAM
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eroplos Avatar
183 months ago
While Grooveshark can't even get into the AppStore, you will most likely not see Spotify there. You will probably have to Jailbreak, just like for Grooveshark's mobile app.

It will be in the app store! It's in the Dutch app store! Plus the difference between Spotify and Grooveshark is that Spotify actually has deals with the record companies and Grooveshark doesn't! That's why Grooveshark isn't in the App Store, because of complaints of the record labels ;)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
eroplos Avatar
183 months ago
Unlimited (desktop) $4.99, Premium (listen on your phone) $9,99

And with Premium you can listen offline (save music, which is pretty handy on your phone) and the music is in higher quality :)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)