Photo Credit: Florian Schmetz
A new report suggests Spotify is developing tools to allow DIY remixes from its Premium subscribers—if new licensing deals are put into place. Here’s the latest.
The audio giant is developing tools to allow subscribers to speed up, mash up, and edit songs from their favorite artists, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Spotify hopes enabling user-generated content on the platform will deepen user engagement and appeal to Gen Z, while also opening a new revenue stream for artists.
Fan manipulations of songs have been popular since YouTube was created in 2005. Now more than 20 years later, the music industry has learned it can capitalize on this trend rather than issuing copyright strikes.
If Spotify embraces the creation of user-generated content, then labels have an easier way to make sure their artists are paid when these fan manipulations are created. “Rights holders—labels, publishers, and artists—would be compensated when fans stream modified versions of their music on Spotify,” the report states.
Under the plans Spotify is discussing, new tools could function as a type of playback feature, giving users control over speed in the clip. Data firm Pex reports that 38% of music content on TikTok had its speed or pitch modified in 2023, up 25% from 2022—showcasing how the trend is evolving.
The WSJ report suggests that basic manipulation features like speeding up and slowing down would be free to Premium subscribers. But more advanced song modifications might be part of the rumored Spotify Supremium tier that has long been in discussion. Discussions about the tools are in their early stages, but the WSJ notes that licensing agreements have yet to be worked out. The ultimate goal is to allow the modified tracks inside of Spotify—but not outside platforms like social media apps.
