Spotify gets app and loses artists

Spotify’s aim is to become the omnipresent, all-inclusive platform for music. Recent announcements from the top characters of the company might lead us to believe that this is going to happen in the very near future. However, only a few weeks ago, more than 200 independent labels pulled out of the popular Swedish music streaming service. Intriguing.

Spotify’s CEO and founder Daniel Ek revealed third-party apps will be soon available in the player’s interface. The integration of these additional features will enhance the listening experience of the current 10 million users (including 2.5 million paying subscribers) worldwide, according to the optimistic expectations of the company’s boss.

Tickets, lyrics, reviews, recommendations, news and many other high-quality will all make Spotify the ultimate music platform, both online and offline. Last.fm, Billboard, The Guardian, Rolling Stone magazine are among the first confirmed partners offering free extensions, when the App Finder gets up and running.

If this promise of new top-notch content is kept, it’s likely that Spotify users will enjoy a groundbreaking, engaging and absolute lo-fi experience on their computers, mobiles, MP3 players and tablets. Yes, tablets – including the iPad! In fact, just few days after Mr Ek’s pompous proclamation, Spotify’s UK Managing Director Chris Maples – answering a large number of requests from Apple’s tablet customers – mentioned the iPad app as another forthcoming diffusion of the service.

Can you imagine? You’ll be able to access your music anywhere, any time and by any means, and your involvement in that will be total. I like this idea.

At PriceRunner HQ we play our eclectic playlists on Spotify since it’s very difficult to keep everyone happy. I used the word ‘eclectic’, but ‘random’ might give you a better idea of our music tastes in the office.

I love to discover and recognise the value and quality of new, unknown artists. Spotify has always assured satisfying results in my quest for new music. This is why I’m concerned about the recent news of more than 200 independent labels pulling out the platform, led by the distributor ST Holdings. Apparently, the reason behind the decision is related to the low compensation that indie artists receive, compared to the royalties paid to the majors.

This may not impact the Swedish company’s profit and the satisfaction of many of their customers, but I hope this is not the origin of a trend. Music needs to be supported at a basic level; the digital era doesn’t have to be limited to the expansion of listening via different devices, but should multiply the chances of talented artists to achieve popularity and recognition.

Spotify for iPad would be of no interest to me if it was only playing the latest laboratory-built superstar. None at all.