Spotify launches new basic streaming plan in US

Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) has unveiled a new streaming plan for U.S. users, following a recent increase in its premium plan prices. The new basic plan is priced at $10.99 per month and offers streaming benefits similar to those of the premium plan, minus the monthly audiobook listening time.

Premium plans, which allow for offline, ad-free music streaming and 15 hours of audiobook listening time per month, saw a price hike earlier in June. The individual premium plan now costs $11.99, up from $10.99 per month. The duo plan increased to $16.99 from $14.99, and the family plan rose to $19.99 from $16.99 in the United States, Spotify’s largest revenue market.

In recent months, Spotify has been striving to improve its margins by cutting marketing expenditures and implementing layoffs, having previously focused on promotions and significant investments to boost user growth.

Additionally, Spotify is planning to introduce a higher-priced plan for its most dedicated users later this year. According to Bloomberg News, this plan is expected to cost an additional $5 per month and will include enhanced audio quality and new tools for creating playlists and managing song libraries.