Spotify raises U.S. premium plan prices again, following recent UK increase

Long praised for reshaping how people discover music, the Swedish streaming giant now faces a familiar chorus of complaints. After nudging its British listeners' wallets, the company announced that its ad-free tier in the United States will cost more in the coming weeks. For many subscribers, the change feels less like a surprise than a continuation of a pattern that has been unfolding over recent years, as the service balances rising licensing fees with the promise of ever-expanding catalogues and exclusive podcasts. The price adjustment arrives at a moment when streaming has become the default soundtrack of daily life, and the notion of paying for a service that once seemed optional now feels almost inevitable. Listeners who have grown accustomed to the seamless, ad-free experience are left weighing the value of a few extra dollars against the convenience of uninterrupted music. Industry observers note that the move underscores a broader shift in the digital entertainment economy, where even the most entrenched platforms must reckon with the cost of content creation and the expectations of a paying audience.