Music web site Spotify stops music download service in Europe

The music web site Spotify has tuned its services to stop all music downloads unless the customer has a gift card with a specific download link. The move is to "streamline" its music download service and "pave the way" for new features such as web-based browsing.

The technology website Pocket Lint first discovered the change through Twitter, and at least the British and Swedish versions of sporify made the adjustment, according to the user's message. At least one user pointed out that the change had taken place before the arrival of the new year, but in Britain it seems to have only been happening yesterday. A visit to Spotify's Web site shows that other European markets, including Norway, the Netherlands and France, have also stopped downloading music services. But American users have not noticed the change because they haven't been able to buy music through the site.

In a statement, Spotify said: "We have recently upgraded Spotify to streamline services and pave the way for new features to be announced by the end of this year." Purchase within the application is not one of the contents of this upgrade, but we do not exclude that feature. Already purchased points or gift cards can still be redeemed. ”

It appears that the adjustment did not affect the offline listening of quality members and that users who have downloaded music have not been affected. In addition, when you try to download music, you encounter a pop-up window saying: "We do not currently support the downloading of new content at Spotify." ”

In general, the public's response to the service seems weak, which may also mark the popularity of Spotify's download services far less than its online listening service.

A source close to the situation confirmed: "The number of downloads is very, very small." In addition, the source said the integration system used by Spotify is not encouraging the download, and his comments on the system are "a lot of excrement" ...

The download service was previously supported by 7Digital, but Spotify switched it to a self-developed service in 2011 to better manage the entire process.

Not surprisingly, Spotify will refocus its resources and energy on its streaming services, which continue to subvert music sales and downloads. Other evidence suggests streaming media services have been eating away at music downloads and entity sales services. In Sweden, music sales rose 30.1% to 446 million CZK (63 million USD) in the first half of 2012. Among them, digital music accounted for 63.5% of sales, physical sales fell 2.2%, streaming media revenue growth of 79.4%, download revenue reduced by 14%.