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Spotify is using QR codes that refresh every few seconds to confirm that Family Plan subscribers live together, blocking screenshot workarounds some users relied on. Reddit users say they've still managed to scan the codes remotely via video calls. Spotify co-CEO Alex Norström said on a Thursday earnings call that this is a routine update to verification methods, not a new crackdown.
Spotify acknowledged it is tightening verification for its Family Plan subscriptions, which require members to share a household address. The company described this as a routine, ongoing update to its verification methods rather than a one-time crackdown with a set end date.
Spotify confirmed on its Q3 earnings call that it is rolling out QR code verification for Family Plan members, requiring them to scan a code from the plan manager's phone to prove they live together. Members who miss the seven-day verification window lose access and must wait 12 months before joining another Family or Duo plan, or switch to an individually paid plan. Co-CEO Alex Norström described the change as a routine update to existing verification tools rather than a crackdown.
Spotify reported 788 million monthly active users and roughly €5 billion in Q3 revenue. Co-CEO Gustav Söderström told investors that Spotify is integrating with AI assistants like Meta's Muse, ChatGPT, and Claude, aiming to be the music service those agents recommend when users ask for playlists or audio content through conversation rather than the Spotify app itself.
Spotify has introduced a native in-car application that runs directly on vehicle dashboard systems rather than mirroring content from a connected phone. The app adds features such as video playback, synced lyrics, and improved playback controls designed for in-car use.
A blogger reverse engineered the Android app for the music guessing board game Hitster, decompiling its APK with jadx to inspect its code. They found a JSON file containing an encrypted card-to-song database and located the AES decryption routine directly in the app's source, allowing them to decode the mapping between card IDs and Spotify tracks without needing a paid Spotify or Apple Music subscription.
Spotify is rolling out a new verification step for some Premium Family members, requiring them to scan a QR code displayed in the plan manager's app that refreshes every few seconds. Members who fail or ignore the seven-day verification window are barred from joining another Family or Duo plan for 12 months, though they can still buy an individual Premium subscription. Spotify says the check only works through its mobile app with the latest version installed.
Spotify unveiled a fully native in-car app built directly on Google's Android Automotive operating system, debuting in Audi vehicles including the A6 e-tron, Q6 e-tron, A5, Q5, and A6. The app runs on the car's own infotainment hardware without needing a connected phone, Bluetooth, or aux cable, and Spotify now controls the entire on-screen interface rather than relying on Google's templates.
Spotify launched a Memberships feature letting podcast creators sell monthly fan subscriptions for perks like bonus episodes, ad-free listening or exclusive video. The program began immediately in the US, UK, Canada and other markets, with creators keeping 90% of revenue and full control over pricing and content mix. Early participants include The Adam Friedland Show, Making Sense with Sam Harris and The Shawn Ryan Show, with some charging around $5 a month.
Spotify has updated its recommendation system to filter out over 50 million songs it classified as AI-generated spam or low-quality filler. The change aims to prioritize music made by human artists when suggesting tracks to listeners.
Spotify says it is filtering AI-generated 'slop and spam' tracks out of its recommendation system while continuing to host AI music and offer AI remixing tools. Fake or AI-suspected acts like The Velvet Sundown and Breaking Rust still have hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners, with a July report finding the top 10 AI artists earned roughly $2.4 million. Spotify does not offer users a way to block AI audio entirely, unlike Deezer, which plans a full opt-out filter by year's end, or Bandcamp and Tidal, which restrict or don't pay royalties on AI-only tracks.
Spotify has rolled out its Memberships program, letting podcast creators offer exclusive content to fans for a recurring subscription fee. Creators can set multiple price tiers and keep 90 percent of revenue, with the feature launching across 34 markets for shows meeting minimum thresholds of 100 consumption hours, 100 listeners or viewers, and three published episodes.