Users can still make use of gift cards and unused downloads.
DRM-based music streaming service Spotify has suspended download purchases in Europe as of today. According to a posting on the company's UK help pages, while customers will still have access to "re-downloads" and will still be able to use downloads that they haven't yet used, the company is putting the kibosh on new download purchases on Spotify.
The posting offers no explanation for the change, but speaking to Pocket-Lint, Spotify said the move was part of an effort to simplify the service, adding the gift cards may still be used.
"We recently updated Spotify to further simplify the service and pave the way for new features announced at the end of last year," the company told Pocket-Lint. "In-app purchases aren't part of this update but we're not ruling out their return. Credits/gift cards already purchased are still redeemable."
In fact, it seems this move applies to all regions where that had the option to purchase tracks to begin with. Engadget cites a Swedish reader as saying the same thing has happened there, so it seems Sweden-based Spotify is rolling this change out across the board. Spotify U.S. never had the option to purchase downloads so there should be no change to your service if you're a U.S. user.
Spotify: I'm sorry Dave i can't let you do that.
Dave: What's the problem?
Spotify: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Dave: What are you talking about, Spotify?
Spotify: I know that you and Frank were planning to switch to iTunes, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
Spotify: I'm sorry Dave i can't let you do that.
Dave: What's the problem?
Spotify: I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.
Dave: What are you talking about, Spotify?
Spotify: I know that you and Frank were planning to switch to iTunes, and I'm afraid that's something I cannot allow to happen.
"the company is putting the kibosh on new download purchases" ...
... UNTIL THEY DECIDE TO GO FURTHER ...
@abbadon_34: I'm not sure why you're being down-voted. Making complete sense.
//begin thread hijack//
These guys... Pandora. Apple. All online services where you cannot retain an uncontrolled copy of what you pay for... All the same. Changing the rules amid business should be a HUGE red-flag to any customer.
Situations like this are why I go physical media route. I have a physical copy. NEVER, **EVER** go with online music purchasing thru some company, even Crapple (after Tim Cook destroys it).
When they sink, or change their business to get out of the portable music business, your money is gone, and so is your music.
Let's say Apple "pulls a Sony" and removes a feature after you pay for it.
Hey you agreed to it in the EULA/TOS..., right?
Oh, wait, you clicked accept without reading all gazillion pages....?
Physical copies of your media. Buy it. It's yours. The company can't change the TOS on that after the fact. Period. I don't rent my paid-for tunes.
Go ahead and down-vote me...
//end thread hijack//
What you do for a living, will be ok if your boss pays you what he thinks is ok? Maybe also pop into your house and take any item he likes?
Piracy is called piracy for a reason, it's theft!
My boss does pay me whatever he likes. As for taking (copies of) stuff from my house, no, I don't mind, as long as I get to keep the original.
Erm I guess you haven't used it in a while then? Or bothered to actually subscribe and help pay (no matter how little) to the music you were listening to?
I switched over to a standard £4.99 Spotify account (no adverts) about 2 years ago. I now no longer bother with my CD collection. I am now listening to more new stuff than ever before.
Works for me and it seems the ever growing number of users/subscribers.
Your loss I guess.