The feature enables users to choose between an audio-focused interface and one that includes video elements. Family Plan managers can now toggle video access for individual members, expanding a feature previously limited to accounts for users under 13.

The controls are accessible through the “Content and display” settings and apply across mobile, desktop, web and TV platforms.

Spotify said the update will roll out globally this month. However, video advertisements will remain visible even when video content is disabled.

The move comes as the company continues to expand its video offerings, including music videos and video podcasts, while also responding to regulatory concerns and user preferences.

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In a statement released in Lagos, Spotify said streaming in Nigeria has grown at an average rate of 163.5% over the past five years. The platform also reported that total podcast consumption since launch has surpassed 59 billion hours globally.

According to Spotify, the average Nigerian listener is 26 years old, highlighting a young and highly engaged user base.

Afrobeats remains the dominant genre, recording a 5,022% increase in local streams between 2021 and 2025. Other genres also posted sharp growth, including Amapiano (10,330%), Gospel and Praise (5,499%), Hip-hop and Rap (3,020%), and R&B (2,602%).

Listening to indigenous language content has also risen significantly, with strong year-on-year growth recorded in both domestic and global streams.

Over the past five years, the most-streamed artists in Nigeria include Burna Boy, Davido, Asake, Wizkid, and Seyi Vibez.

Industry observers say the growth underscores Nigeria’s cultural influence but note that questions remain around equitable revenue distribution and monetization opportunities for emerging artists.

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The new feature allows users to chat and share podcasts, playlists, and audiobooks with up to 10 people. However, conversations can only be started with users they have previously shared content with, such as through collaborative playlists, Blends, or Jams.

The rollout reflects Spotify’s continued push to make its app more interactive. Over the years, the company has added social elements including podcast comments, user following, and activity sharing.

Spotify noted that its messaging tools are designed to complement, rather than replace, sharing content outside the app. Messages are encrypted while stored and in transit, though they are not protected with end-to-end encryption.

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Once a venue is followed, it is saved to the user’s library, where they can browse scheduled concerts, view announcements, and filter upcoming shows by genre. The company is also shifting from a weekly to a daily update cycle for its live event feed, ensuring users receive the latest concert information more quickly.

Fans can still tap on events to purchase tickets through Spotify’s ticketing partners, such as Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The company briefly experimented with selling tickets directly in 2022 but has since focused on partnerships rather than operating its own marketplace.

Earlier this year, Spotify also introduced “Concerts Near You,” a playlist that highlights songs from artists performing near a user’s location, further cementing its focus on live event discovery. Competitors like SoundCloud have followed a similar path, partnering with ticketing giants to integrate show listings into artist pages.

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The company said it is working with Sony, Universal, Warner, and Merlin to build “responsible AI” products that respect copyright while giving artists the choice to opt in or out of AI use.

Although Spotify did not give specific details about how the tools will function, the move builds on its existing generative AI features, such as its AI DJ that curates personalized playlists and tools that allow users to create playlists through AI prompts.

The company has faced criticism in recent months after an AI-generated band’s music went viral on the platform, raising concerns about the future of human artistry. In response, Spotify updated its AI policies to curb spam, prevent mass uploads of AI-generated content, and improve transparency through the adoption of the DDEX labeling system to indicate when AI is used in music creation.

In a statement, Spotify said the new system will allow artists to identify when their music is used in AI-generated tracks and receive compensation. The company added that the system will eventually cover other rightsholders and distributors.

“Some voices in the tech industry believe copyright should be abolished. We don’t. Musicians’ rights matter. Copyright is essential,” Spotify said. “If the music industry doesn’t lead in this moment, AI-powered innovation will happen elsewhere, without rights, consent, or compensation.”

Spotify also revealed plans to establish a generative AI research lab and product team focused on developing technologies that align with its principles of artist choice and copyright protection. Work on the first products is already underway, with more tools expected to roll out in the coming months.

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The streaming giant appointed two long-serving executives as co-CEOs: Gustav Söderström, chief product and technology officer, and Alex Norström, chief business officer.

“Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav,” Ek said in a statement. “This change simply matches titles to how we already operate.”

Ek, who has led Spotify since founding it in 2006, said he will focus on long-term strategy and maintaining close ties between the board and the co-CEOs. He noted in a post on X that Spotify has been profitable for over a year.

Outside Spotify, Ek co-founded health startup Neko in 2018 and investment firm Prima Materia in 2021.

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According to the streaming giant, impacted subscribers will begin receiving email notifications over the next month informing them of the change. In Europe, for instance, monthly subscription costs will rise from €10.99 to €11.99.

This is not the first time Spotify has adjusted its pricing. In 2023, it raised the U.S. monthly premium fee from $10.99 to $11.99 — marking the second price increase within a single year.

The move comes just days after Spotify posted disappointing financial results, falling short of revenue expectations and causing its stock to tumble by 11%. During the company’s earnings call, CEO Daniel Ek acknowledged the challenges, stating he was “unhappy with where [Spotify is] today,” while expressing confidence in the company’s long-term vision.

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Microsoft accounted for 25% of phishing attempts globally between April and June 2025. Google followed with 11%, while Apple came in third at 9%. Spotify made a surprising comeback to the top 10 list—ranking fourth for the first time since Q4 2019—responsible for 6% of phishing activity.

The report revealed that the tech sector remains the most targeted industry, as attackers continue to leverage user trust in software, cloud, and authentication platforms.

Commenting on the trend, Check Point’s Data Research Manager, Omer Dembinsky, said the resurgence of Spotify and the sharp rise in travel-related scams during the holiday season show how phishing is evolving to match user habits.

One major Spotify-themed campaign involved a convincing fake login and payment page designed to harvest user credentials and credit card details. Similarly, over 700 fake Booking.com domains were created in Q2, using names and contact details of real users to boost credibility—a 1000% spike in travel-related phishing activity.

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Spotify to Display Pricing on Apple Devices 

TECH DIGEST – Music streaming company Spotify will finally display pricing information for its various plans and services within its app on Apple devices in the European Union (EU) starting Wednesday. This comes after a three-month-long dispute with Apple, which had initially rejected Spotify’s update.

The initial rejection stemmed from Spotify’s refusal to accept Apple’s newly introduced “Music Streaming Services Entitlement.” These terms govern how music streaming apps in the EU inform users about alternative ways to make purchases, potentially bypassing Apple’s App Store payment system.

While Spotify has now agreed to Apple’s terms, its iOS app will not allow users to make purchases directly through external links. This is because Spotify would have to pay Apple a commission on any transactions processed outside the App Store. Apple, however, maintains that accepting its music streaming terms does not require offering external payment options.

“This is progress,” said Spotify in a statement, “but only a small step” toward providing iPhone users in the EU with the “basic product experiences they expect and deserve.” This comment reflects Spotify’s ongoing criticism of Apple’s App Store practices, which the company argues stifle competition.

The move to allow clearer pricing communication aligns with a broader effort by the EU to regulate app store practices. In April, the EU fined Apple €1.84 billion ($2 billion) for its anti-competitive practices related to music streaming services within the App Store.

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TECH DIGEST-  Spotify has announced a substantial reduction in its workforce, with 1,500 jobs, representing 17% of its employees, set to be cut. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek described the decision as “difficult” but deemed it necessary to streamline costs and meet the company’s objectives in a landscape of dramatically slowed economic growth.

The workforce reduction comes as Spotify, which currently employs around 9,000 people, aims to take “substantial action to rightsize our costs.” Daniel Ek acknowledged the impact on the team, acknowledging that the cuts would be “incredibly painful” for individuals who have made valuable contributions to the company.

Earlier this year, Spotify had implemented staff cuts, but the current plans far surpass those previous announcements. Despite reporting a profit of €65 million (£55.7 million) in its latest quarterly results, marking its first profit in over a year, Spotify is taking proactive steps to ensure financial stability amid changing market dynamics.

Daniel Ek noted that given the recent positive results, the announced job cuts might feel surprisingly large for many people. The company had initially considered smaller reductions over the next few years but ultimately decided on more drastic action to improve its financial outlook.

Spotify, with a current user base of 601 million, has been expanding globally with the goal of reaching a billion users by 2030. The company has invested significantly in business growth and securing exclusive content, including high-profile podcast deals. Despite successes, such as exclusive podcasts from notable figures like Michelle and Barack Obama, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, some ventures have not yielded anticipated results.

Affected employees will be informed starting Monday, and Spotify plans to provide about five months of severance pay, holiday pay, and healthcare coverage for the severance period. Additionally, the company will offer immigration support to employees whose immigration status is connected to their employment. The workforce red

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