Spotify raises prices outside North America following Q2 loss

The streaming company confirmed the changes on 5 August, stating that it would adjust subscription fees in regions including Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific. North America was notably excluded, following a reported slowdown in subscriber growth in the US.

“Premium subscribers in multiple markets… will receive an email explaining what this update means for their subscriptions,” the company said in a statement.

While Spotify did not release a full list of affected countries, it included an email screenshot indicating that Individual plan pricing in at least one European country will rise from €10.99 (about $12.60) to €11.99 per month from September. The specific country was not disclosed.

This is not the first time Spotify has raised prices in Europe. Earlier this year, subscription fees increased in the Benelux region and later in France, where a government-imposed streaming tax contributed to the hike.

Social media users in various regions have already expressed frustration over the new fees, with some threatening to cancel their subscriptions or switch to competing platforms. Several users highlighted Spotify’s continued lack of high-resolution audio, a feature already offered by rivals like Apple Music at no additional cost.

India, one of Spotify’s fastest-growing but toughest markets for monetisation, will also see higher fees. According to India Today, the price of an Individual subscription will rise by 17% to Rs 139 ($1.58), while Family plans will increase by about 28% to Rs 229 ($2.61).

Despite the backlash, Spotify’s share price surged following the announcement. After a drop linked to its Q2 results, shares rose by 6% on the New York Stock Exchange, trading around $663 at the time of reporting.

Spotify ended the last quarter with 207 million subscribers outside North America.