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Spotify Made a Huge Mistake With AI

While Spotify users worm their way through a maze of AI-generated slop, the streaming giant's executives are dealing with an exodus of musicians after CEO Daniel Ek was working on a massive investment into an AI military weapons firm. Through his tech investment company, Prima Materia, Ek lead a $690 million funding round into Helsing, a German drone and AI weapons tech company, as reported by the Financial Times. Four years earlier, Ek — who also holds a position as Chairman of Helsing — led t

Spotify Panama Playlists expose the soundtrack of the elite (and the death of their privacy)

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority TL;DR A website called Panama Playlists claims to have exposed the Spotify listening habits of politicians, tech CEOs, celebrities, and journalists by tracking their public playlists and listening activity. The leak reveals the personal music choices of some of the world’s most powerful people, including US Vice President JD Vance, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, United States Attorney General Pam Bondi, and others. The site highlights a big flaw in how Spotify hand

Spotify activity revealed for celebrities, politicians, exposing privacy faults

Spotify has always had a bent toward social sharing and keeping music activity public. Now, a new website called Panama Playlists has exposed the service’s privacy gaps by revealing Spotify playback activity, playlists, and more for various celebrities—including tech leaders, politicians, and more. Panama Playlists exposes Spotify’s privacy shortcomings Do you know what your Spotify privacy settings are? That’s the question being prompted by a new website. As highlighted by The Verge, Panama

Spotify's lax privacy means anyone can see the Vice President's song choices

A new cybersecurity "breach" has revealed the personal information of various celebrities, and while it won't let you steal their identities, it will allow you to... judge them. The "Panama Playlists" details the Spotify song choices of notable people ranging from Vice President JD Vance to talk show host Seth Meyers to tech bros like Palmer Luckey. And technically, it wasn't a breach at all, but a possible lack of understanding around Spotify's privacy settings. Spotify has always allowed user

Spotify now requires face scans to access age-restricted content in the UK

Spotify is introducing new requirements to confirm the ages of users in the UK trying to access explicit content. The streaming platform is implementing a facial scan process in partnership with Yoti, which also provides its services to Instagram . UK Spotify users may be prompted to perform this age check when they try to view or listen to age-restricted content. This type of approach to checking ages can sometimes yield wrong results. If the facial scan based on a photo of the user determines

Spotify’s terrible privacy settings just leaked Palmer Luckey’s bops and bangers

is a reporter who writes about tech, money, and human behavior. She joined The Verge in 2014 as science editor. Previously, she was a reporter at Bloomberg. Have you ever wondered what bops powerful figures are listening to on Spotify? You’d be amazed what you can get with a profile search — but just in case you want them all in one place, there’s the Panama Playlists, a newly published collection of data on the musical listening habits of politicians, journalists, and tech figures, as curated

Spotify drops 11% for worst day in two years on weak guidance

The company expects revenues to reach 4.2 billion euros, compared to a 4.47 billion euro estimate from StreetAccount. Spotify said the forecast accounts for a 490-basis-point headwind due to foreign exchange rates. Spotify said higher personnel, marketing and professional services costs and 115 million euros worth of what it called social charges contributed to the results. The Swedish platform's revenues rose 10% from about 3.81 billion euros in the year-ago period. The company posted a net l

Spotify CEO Ek says he's 'unhappy' with ads business as stock falls 10% on weak guidance

The company expects revenues to reach 4.2 billion euros, compared to a 4.47 billion euro estimate from StreetAccount. Spotify said the forecast accounts for a 490-basis-point headwind due to foreign exchange rates. Spotify said that higher personnel, marketing and professional services costs and 115 million euros worth of what it called social charges contributed to the results. The Swedish platform's revenues rose 10% from about 3.81 billion euros in the year-ago period. The company posted a

Spotify hints at a more chatty voice AI interface in the future

Spotify has experimented with various voice interfaces in the past, and more recently, added an AI DJ that introduces tunes the company thinks you’ll like and lets you make your own requests. Now, Spotify is teasing that generative AI advances may pave the way for an even more conversational interface with the streaming service in the future, according to comments made during Spotify’s second-quarter earnings call with investors on Tuesday. Asked about how AI was affecting its business, Spotify

Spotify CEO Ek says he's 'unhappy' with ads business as stock falls 9% on weak guidance

The company expects revenues to reach 4.2 billion euros, compared to a 4.47 billion euro estimate from StreetAccount. Spotify said the forecast accounts for a 490-basis-point headwind due to foreign exchange rates. Spotify said that higher personnel, marketing and professional services costs and 115 million euros worth of what it called social charges contributed to the results. The Swedish platform's revenues rose 10% from about 3.81 billion euros in the year-ago period. The company posted a

Spotify hits 696M users, but returned to making a loss

Spotify has posted its latest earnings report, stating that both paid and free users were up more than 10% year-on-year, but the company returned to making a loss … Spotify announced solid growth in both subscribers and revenue: Subscribers climbed 12% Y/Y to 276 million. climbed 12% Y/Y to 276 million. Monthly Active Users grew 11% Y/Y to 696 million. grew 11% Y/Y to 696 million. Total Revenue increased 10% Y/Y to €4.2 billion. increased 10% Y/Y to €4.2 billion. Gross Margin improved by 22

Spotify Caught Doing Something Unbelievably Ghoulish With AI

Weeks after trending "indie rock band" The Velvet Sundown admitted its Spotify oeuvre was entirely generated by AI, news has emerged that the streaming company is using AI to publish new tunes by dead musicians. Per reporting by 404 Media, Spotify is populating the profiles of long-dead artists with new AI-generated songs that have nothing to do with the deceased musicians — without the permission of their families or record labels. The outlet uncovered, for instance, that American singer-song

Spotify takes a swing at gaming with a mini golf game ahead of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ release

Netflix and Spotify have teamed up to launch a golf-inspired game as a way to promote “Happy Gilmore 2,” the sequel to Adam Sandler’s 1996 comedy film, which premieres on Netflix this Friday, July 25. This partnership represents a new venture for Spotify, as the music platform has never teamed up with another company to create a gaming experience within its app before. Gaming is an area Spotify has largely overlooked, so working with the streaming giant is notable, even if only for a promotion

Spotify Takes Down Fake AI Song Credited to Famous Country Singer Who's Been Dead for Years

Country music fans may know Blaze Foley from his outlaw country Austin shows in the '80s, but they wouldn't recognize the track, "Together," that mysteriously appeared under Foley's Spotify profile a few days ago. That's because it's an AI-generated song uploaded by Syntax Error, and the sign of a growing problem in music apps. AI can easily create songs and imitate certain styles, but in addition to copyright issues, that creates legal problems when AI pretends to be an existing artist. It's n

I use both YouTube Music and Spotify, and for good reason

Andy Walker / Android Authority For many, the choice between Spotify and YouTube Music is a major dilemma. But for me, it’s not a question of picking one over the other. Unlike most people who stick to a single platform, I seamlessly integrate both into my daily routine, especially when relying on their free plans. But even when I opt for premium features, I often subscribe to one service while still actively using the other. Why this dual-platform approach? It all comes down to their distinct

After ditching Spotify for a week, I now understand why readers love YouTube Music

Andy Walker / Android Authority A few weeks ago, I ran an Open Thread asking readers why they prefer using YouTube Music over many available alternatives, including my service of choice, Spotify. It would be an understatement to say that it received a flurry of comments and strong opinions from our community questioning my views. With just under 400 replies at the time of this writing, not to mention the big win for Google’s streaming service in the accompanying poll, it’s clear that I was perh

Spotify’s new 30-hour audiobook plans are too short to finish long books

Spotify has launched two new Audiobooks Plus add-on subscriptions that allow Premium users to double their audiobook listening limit to 30 hours. They’re available to individual Premium subscribers and users who manage Family and Duo plans. Other users on Premium accounts can now also request 15 hours of audiobook access from their plan manager. However, the new plans are still too short for those who prefer to listen to longer books. The 30-hour limit won’t get you through titles like George R

Spotify's Audiobooks+ add-on is now available to some Premium subscribers

It’s likely that you predominantly associate Spotify with music and podcasts, but if you’re a Premium member, you also get 15 hours of audiobook access per month. For some members, though, that clearly isn’t enough, as Spotify has introduced a new add-on subscription that doubles that listening time. Audiobooks+ was first trialled in Ireland and Canada, and is launching initially for Premium Individual and Plan members in a number of countries in Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand. On

Spotify expands audiobook access to family plan members for the first time

Spotify on Thursday announced an expansion of its premium audiobooks service, with two new plans that offer additional listening hours to subscribers, and allow other family members to access the service. The options are currently only available for Spotify Premium users in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, following initial tests in Ireland and Canada. U.S. users could already purchase 15 hours of

OnePlus earbuds could soon make Spotify access seamless (APK teardown)

Aamir Siddiqui / Android Authority TL;DR Code within the HeyMelody app suggests OnePlus and OPPO earbuds could soon get Spotify Tap functionality. Spotify Tap allows instant music playback with a double or triple tap on compatible earbuds. It’s unknown if the feature will be coming to existing earbuds from the companies, or if they will be exclusive to products slated for the near future. OnePlus makes some great earbuds, with recent options like the OnePlus Buds 4 slotting in nicely at $130

Spotify Jam comes to Android Auto so your whole car can DJ

Google TL;DR Spotify’s latest Android Auto update brings the Jam feature to car displays, letting friends join in and contribute music. The feature allows passengers to join a shared music queue by scanning a QR code on the in-car screen. The latest update for Spotify on Android Auto also improves offline listening and adds a floating search button for easier access. Spotify’s Android Auto app just got an important upgrade, adding the popular Jam feature to the in-car experience. Jam allows

AI-Generated Music Is Starting to Crowd Out the Real Stuff on Streaming Platforms

The digital platform era hasn't been kind to musicians, to put it lightly. Though platforms like Spotify and Apple Music make it easier for audiences to access their favorite bands than ever before, the algorithms and contracts behind those apps are ruthless, paying artists fractions of pennies for their work. Though companies like Spotify have tripled their value during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of artists who are even eligible for royalties, regardless of the paltry amount, continues

EBAF – eBPF Based Ad Firewall

eBAF - eBPF Based Ad Firewall "You Wouldn't Download an Ad" But You Would Block One! Spotify has built an empire on a simple formula: monetize your attention, underpay the artists, and sell you back your own time as a premium feature. In their world, your listening experience is not yours. It’s a carefully curated marketplace — your ears are the product, your patience is the currency. They like to call it a "free" tier. But let’s be honest: it’s not free if you’re paying with your time. Mea

Creator of "Indie Band" Who Insisted It Wasn't AI-Generated Just Admitted the Truth

A "band" that sparked a heated debate for heavily relying on generative AI — and still somehow accumulating over half a million listeners on Spotify — has finally admitted the truth. Earlier this week, a self-proclaimed "indie rock band" called The Velvet Sundown claimed on its "official" X account that it "never" used any AI, accusing "so-called 'journalists'" of "pushing the lazy, baseless theory that The Velvet Sundown is 'AI-generated' with zero evidence." It was a preposterous claim that

Deerhoof did not want its music ‘funding AI battle tech’ — so it ditched Spotify

is a reporter who writes about tech, money, and human behavior. She joined The Verge in 2014 as science editor. Previously, she was a reporter at Bloomberg. On Monday, the long-running indie rock band Deerhoof made an announcement: it was pulling its music from Spotify. The impetus was Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s newest investment in Helsing, the German defense group that makes AI and drones. Helsing raised 600 million euros in its most recent funding round, which was led by Ek’s venture capit

From Sensual Butt Songs to Santa’s Alleged Coke Habit: AI Slop Music Is Getting Harder to Avoid

AI slop is flooding every single digital platform, and music streaming services are no exception—so much so, even someone who generally avoids AI might find themselves unknowingly listening to a robot hornily singing about butts. Take the sordid saga of “Make Love to My Shitter,” an AI-generated track from an artist called BannedVinylCollection. Brace Belden, a host of the popular politics podcast TrueAnon, says that Spotify recently queued up the bawdy song after he’d finished listening to alt

Spotify Celebrates 10 Years of Discover Weekly With a Fresh New Look

Spotify — a CNET Editors' Choice award-winning service — offers Premium subscribers ($12 a month) a huge catalog filled with millions of songs to enjoy at home, on the go and everywhere in between. And on Monday, the company celebrated 10 years of its Discover Weekly playlist by giving it a new look and giving subscribers more control over what genres of music they will see in the playlist. Read more: Best Music Streaming Services of 2025 I didn't mind the color-gradient Discover Weekly album

I just can’t imagine using YouTube Music, so why do you?

Joe Maring / Android Authority 🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup. Not too long ago, I was a loyal Google Play Music user. It was an app that I loved dearly, offering great usability and a wide range of music. However, when the vastly different YouTube Music arrived and Play Music departed, I sought another service. I couldn’t quite get to grips with the changes, a

Half a million Spotify users are unknowingly grooving to an AI-generated band

Making art used to be a uniquely human endeavor, but machines have learned to distill human creativity with generative AI. Whether that content counts as "art" depends on who you ask, but Spotify doesn't discriminate. A new band called The Velvet Sundown debuted on Spotify this month and has already amassed more than half a million listeners. But by all appearances, The Velvet Sundown is not a real band—it's AI. While many artists are vehemently opposed to using AI, some have leaned into the tr

An "Indie Rock Band" That Appears to Be Entirely AI-Generated Is Making Alarming Amounts of Money on Spotify

While real artists struggle to earn money on Spotify, a seemingly AI-generated "band" has garnered enough streams to actually make a buck. As Music Ally reports, the act in question, The Velvet Sundown, recently appeared out of the blue on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and even YouTube — despite having no digital footprint prior to this summer. Despite being so seemingly young, The Velvet Sundown — whose name is a clear ripoff of Lou Reed's legendary psych-rock band The Velvet Un