[Sidders]

Spotify has announced that it is changing it's service so that users on the free service who have been members for more than 6 months will only be able to listen to 10 hours of music a month and each track can only be played a maximum of 5 times. Full details here.

I think it's a shame that Spotify has chosen to go down this route, I think it will lose many if not most of its users and don't see what it does to discourage piracy. I certainly won't be using it anymore when there are free alternatives such as Grooveshark, Last.fm and Youtube. It's a massive shame though as Spotify was by far the best free music service, I didn't even mind the adverts.

[Sidders]

Am I the only one that cares?

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Yup - Spotify is shite true factz lolzy.

[bmstinton93]

Yep. Pirate Bay ftw

[Bonanzoid]

Am I the only one that cares?

No, I 'm pretty gutted. Spotify's amazing. I won't give a well thought insight into this, I'll just leave you with this. Spotify is gayz.

[Nicola_Red]

Yep. Pirate Bay ftw

Exactly. I've never understood the point of Spotify when you can just download. Also something about the name 'Spotify' sets my teeth on edge. Not sure why that is...

[bmstinton93]

I've never understood the point of Spotify when you can just download.

I think that spotify has helped to slightly cut down on illegal file sharing though.

[Sidders]

Yep. Pirate Bay ftw

Exactly. I've never understood the point of Spotify when you can just download. Also something about the name 'Spotify' sets my teeth on edge. Not sure why that is...

The thing is with downloading illegally (or even legally for that matter) it takes time to search for what you're looking for, download the torrent or files, unzip them, then you can finally play them. With Spotify you put in your search term and have the track playing within seconds. I've found it's even much easier than having an mp3 collection stored on your computer. I would actually go as far as to say that my life changed when I discovered spotify, and I'm very sad that it will no longer be available.

[bmstinton93]

I doubt its quicker than having them on your pc. I just have everything in my itunes and i quickly type what i want into the search and it plays instantly. And i can even download a full album in under 5 minutes now which isn't much of a wait

[Sidders]

I doubt its quicker than having them on your pc. I just have everything in my itunes and i quickly type what i want into the search and it plays instantly. And i can even download a full album in under 5 minutes now which isn't much of a wait

Yeah, but you still have to take the time to import CDs onto your PCs. iTunes is much slower than Spotify too. 5 minutes is still 5 minutes, 12 albums an hour. On spotify, music you don't own is instantly available at the touch of a button.

[jocky85]

I'm a little bothered. I use spotify sometimes at work to listen to albums etc depending what I'm in the mood for.

Annoying.

[R94N]

I like Spotify, and I think I will be signing up for the Premium service next month. I don't really want to download everything when I can just listen on my computer via streaming. And I don't really like pirating things, either. People have been getting really annoyed with the new restrictions but at the end of the day it's still a free service, and like every business they need to make money somehow and keep running. So I don't blame them.

[Sidders]

I appreciate they had to make money, but that's what the adverts were for. I'm not going to start paying when the same service is available free from grooveshark and last.fm etc.

[bmstinton93]

Last.fm is crap though.

[MK Chris]

I would have used Spotify if it had been available subscription-free on mobiles.

[bmstinton93]

The only time I ever tried to download it on my PC it wouldn't let me. It said I needed an invite or something so from then I just thought its not worth it

[Sidders]

The only time I ever tried to download it on my PC it wouldn't let me. It said I needed an invite or something so from then I just thought its not worth it

If you'd have got in early enough there was a back door but they patched it eventually.