Spotify has become quite popular in the U.S. since it finally launched in 2011 after already achieving such popularity in Europe. One feature we might not get here in the States, however, is the ability to download songs, as the company has put a stop to the feature in Europe.
Those who have already downloaded music, can of course still listen to their downloads, and those who have unused credits may still use them. They’re just not allowing new ones.
On an FAQ page, Spotify says, “We’re currently not offering new download purchases on Spotify. You can still use downloads you’ve already purchased.”
You can still re-download a track you’ve already bought.
TechCrunch shares a statement from the company, saying, “We recently updated Spotify to further simplify the service and pave the way for new features announced at the end of last year. In-app purchases aren’t part of this update but we’re not ruling out their return. Credits/gift cards already purchased are still redeemable.”
Rumor has it that Apple may release a “Pandora competitor” this month, and really, that means a Spotify competitor as well. With Apple’s iTunes having such a presence in the music downloads space, it seems like this is something Spotify would want to offer. Apparently for now, it’s not in the cards, however.
Spotify currently has over 20 million subscribers, and gained 2 million paid subscriptions in 2012. In November, the company got a $100 million round of funding.