Spotify’s Basic plan returns to $11 a month by cutting audiobooks

Spotify has a new plan for US subscribers that keeps you on the old $11 monthly pricing — as long as you don’t mind ditching audiobooks. The new Basic tier includes the music and podcast content you get from Premium but without 15 hours of audiobook access, a recently added feature we suspect many subscribers don’t care about anyway. Spotify said earlier this month it would hike Premium prices to $12 per month, beginning in July. The Basic plan echoes one it rolled out in the UK last month. That one costs £11 per month compared to £12 for Premium with audiobook content. Some have suspected Spotify’s audiobook push has nefarious motives. Earlier this month, the National Music Publishers’ Association asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the move, going as far as calling the company’s audiobook integration “a scheme to increase profits by deceiving consumers and cheating the music royalty system.” The NMPA complaint claims Spotify will pay about $150 million less in music royalties over the next year because of its audiobook fusion. Spotify told Engadget it did nothing wrong and rejected the accusations. Spotify has been penny-pinching in other areas. It was reported last year that the company planned to overhaul its royalty model. One alleged part of that plan was to demonetize tracks earning less than five cents per month, pushing out some indie artists without established audiences.  Spotify also laid off around 9,000 employees late last year, citing “the gap... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-06-21 18:36:40 UTC ]
News tagged with: #association asked #audiobook integration #increase profits #deceiving consumers #$150 million #audiobook fusion #royalty model #alleged part #indie artists #established audiences #audiobook-free tier #account page #picking basic #basic option #audiobook

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Magazine iPad App Launches Slow in First Two Months of 2011

The Association of Magazine Media (MPA) released a study following growth in magazine-created iPad Apps, tracking a decline from previous months’ numbers. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cutting Out Middleman to Sell Small Ads Online

Online publishers like CBS and Forbes are selling the tiny ads on their Web sites, rather than letting a third-party network promote teeth whitening and herbal remedies. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Booktrust funding cut by 50%

Written By: Graeme Neill and Katie Allen Publication Date: Fri, 25/02/2011 - 16:44 Bookstart has had its funding slashed by 50% after the government pledged to continue funding the bookgifting scheme for the next two years. C.e.o of independent charity Booktrust, which administers the scheme,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S plans unmissable Collins' launch

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Thu, 24/02/2011 - 15:30 Simon & Schuster is repackaging three of Jackie Collins’ backlist titles ahead of her latest novel, Goddess of Vengeance. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Retailers finalise World Book Night plans

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstone's cuts 17 head office staff

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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High Court challenge launched over library cuts in Gloucestershire and Somerset

Written By: Bookseller Staff Publication Date: Wed, 23/02/2011 - 15:33 A High Court challenge is being launched over library closures in Gloucestershire and Somerset, in what is believed to be the first case of its kind. A challenge to the coalition government's "vague" Big Society concept,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google One Pass gives back what Apple's iPad subscription plan takes away

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[ Betanews | 2011-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Borders US applies for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple App Store subscription plan gouges publishers, eats their young

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[ Betanews | 2011-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ PC World | 2011-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hounslow postpones library cuts

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstone's to close 11 stores by end of week

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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