Spotify is working on some seemingly TikTok-inspired remix features in its latest attempt to capitalize on the social media platform's explosive popularity. According to the Wall Street JournalSpotify is developing tools that would allow paid subscribers to “speed up, blend and otherwise edit” tracks from their favorite artists, which could then be saved for repeated listening.
One use case for the tools is to allow Spotify users to adjust the speed of the songs they listen to. These music edits are already popular among teens and young adults on TikTok, and content analytics firm Pex found that 38 percent of songs on the platform had their speed or pitch altered in 2023, compared to the previous year. 25 percent the previous year.
According to the WSJSpotify will likely make some of these more basic tools available through the standard Spotify Premium subscription that starts at $10.99 (or $5.99 if you're a student). Otherwise, anything more sophisticated could be placed behind the more expensive “Supremium” tier, which is also expected to include Spotify HiFi, its long-delayed lossless audio feature.
Artists and labels often don't see money for remixes of unauthorized songs, as they are difficult to locate.
While the sped-up remixes on TikTok may be done in good faith (adding some variety and creative pizzazz to viral memes, trends, and dance routines), it's also likely that these songs have been tweaked in an attempt to evade copyright protections. author or contractual disputes that Otherwise, the track would be removed from the platform. Either way, artists and record labels often don't see money from these modified songs as they are difficult to track. By contrast, Spotify's approach could open up new revenue streams for artists because remixes would be tied to the original recording.
Unauthorized remixes are hardly fair the TikTok problem in November 2023, Pex estimated that at least one percent of all songs on streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Tidal are modified audio. “We're talking about over 1 million manipulated and unlicensed songs that are siphoning off revenue from rights holders right now,” said Pex senior vice president of sales Larry Mills. “These can generate millions in cumulative revenue for those who upload them rather than the correct rights holders.”
Spotify reportedly has no plans to make these user-generated remixes shareable on third-party services. Instead, the company aims to make it easier for artists to receive royalties or other compensation for their work, without having to release multiple versions of their music on the platform. Artists like SZA have already taken this approach, having released four additional versions (live, sped-up, instrumental and cappella) of her single, “Saturn,” in February. Isabel LaRosa also released faster versions of her music after noticing the trend on TikTok, with the sped-up version of “I'm Yours” attracting almost as many listens on Spotify as the original song.
