By CE Critic - Buy Better Tech

Table of Contents:

• Sharing the Music
• A New Note
• Consequences of a Missed Note
• Users Raise Concerns

Spotify's Family Plan, once a popular option for sharing music among loved ones, has struck a sour note with its recent address verification requirement. Implemented in August 2019, the policy has sparked debate and frustration among users accustomed to sharing the plan beyond a single household. Let's examine the history of the plan, the current situation, and why some users are feeling out of sync.

Sharing the Music:

Launched in 2014, the Spotify Family Plan offered an affordable way for up to six members residing at the same address to enjoy premium music streaming. For $14.99 per month, each member received their own account with ad-free listening, unlimited skips, and offline music downloads. Sharing the plan made sense for families and close-knit groups living together, providing significant savings compared to individual Premium subscriptions.

A New Note:

The new address verification requirement introduces a twist in this arrangement. Now, all members must verify their full address with Spotify, matching the plan manager's address. This verification happens upon joining the plan, when the plan manager changes address, or if Spotify cannot confirm a member's address.

While Spotify assures users they only use the address for verification and do not track location, the implication is clear: sharing the plan beyond a single household is no longer as straightforward.

Consequences of a Missed Note:

Failing to verify your address within the allotted timeframe or providing an address mismatch can have negative consequences:

• Loss of Family Plan access: The non-compliant member is removed from the plan and reverts to a free Spotify account.
• Duo Plan lockout: For a year after failing verification, the ex-member is barred from joining any Family or Duo plan.

Users Raise Concerns:

Unsurprisingly, the policy has drawn criticism from users:

• Privacy concerns: Many users are uncomfortable sharing their address with Spotify, especially with limited transparency about data usage and security.
• Sharing restrictions: The policy effectively limits legitimate sharing among geographically dispersed families and friends.
• Erosion of trust: Users feel Spotify is intruding on their privacy and undermining the spirit of a plan designed for sharing.

The new address verification policy leaves a mixed note for many users. While Spotify aims to address plan abuse, the execution raises concerns about privacy and limits the flexibility that once made the Family Plan appealing. Whether this is a harmonious adjustment or a discordant change remains to be seen.