While the price of Spotify’s monthly subscription fee is increasing yet again, we will have access to a new feature. It’s rolling out TikTok-inspired remix features within its own space. What does that mean? According to the Wall Street Journal, Spotify is developing tools that would allow paid subscribers to “speed up, mash-up, and otherwise edit” tracks from their favorite artists, which could then be saved for repeat listening.
According to the WSJ, Spotify will likely make some of these more basic tools available via the standard Spotify Premium subscription that starts from $10.99 (or $5.99 if you’re a student). The more advanced tools will be included in the “Supremium” tier.
The reason for these additions comes from, obviously the ever-increasing popularity of the TikTok platform. Additionally, data was collected from Pex that finds that 38% of songs on TikTok had their speeds or modified in 2023, compared to 25 percent the year prior. A stat we never thought to look at. It’s a very telling stat in a few ways. First, it adds more creativity to all different forms of content. Second, it can be an attempt to evade copywrite protections or contractual disputes that would otherwise see the track removed from the platform.
Spotify reportedly isn’t planning to make the remixes sharable on third party platforms. Instead, the company is aiming to make it easier for artists to receive royalties or other compensation for their work, without having to release multiple versions of their music on the platform.
Lastly, at the moment, it’s important to note that performers and labels often do not see any money from these modified songs as they’re hard to track. Spotify’s approach could open a new source of revenue since the remixes would be tired to the original recording.