In the past fortnight, Spotify has undergone some major changes. The made a wholesale update to their mobile offering; they updated their tablet experience to be exactly the same as on a desktop or laptop; they added two high-profile bands to their music selection; they launched in 20 new markets, bringing the grand total to 55 markets.

Free Spotify App Updates

On Wednesday December 11, Spotify announced – in a clunky, jumbled up press release – what was already expected, that their streaming music service is now free on mobile phones.¹ The free Spotify experience on the phone is very similar to the free Spotify experience on the computer, with the exception of the track-on-demand feature. So essentially, on Spotify Free for mobile, you can stream all of your playlists, stream an artists catalog, or discover new music.

The free Spotify tablet experience, however, is now exactly the same as the free Spotify experience on the computer. According to the release:

We also know how much our users love to use their tablets for music at home. Unlike mobile devices, it turns out that tablets are becoming the new desktops…So, starting today, iOS and Android tablet users can enjoy the same great free Spotify experience that they’ve grown to love on their computer. Any song or album, on-demand at your fingertips.²

The updated mobile experience stands in stark contrast to Spotify’s former mobile offerings. Until the update, listening to and using Spotify on a phone was reserved for premium users at a charge of $10 a month.

Led Zeppelin and Metallica Catalogs Arrive on Spotify

In what have to be considered two of the biggest events in Spotify’s 6 year history, the company was able to secure the streaming rights to both the entire Metallica catalog, and Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song/Atlantic catalog.³ Both Led Zeppelin and Metallica, until now, have steadfastly withheld their music from streaming services. One of Metallica’s founding members, Lars Ulrich – who was extremely outspoken in the Metallica/Napster controversy and lawsuit of the late 90s early 2000s – made a statement concerning the bands decision to grant Spotify their streaming rights:

Metallica has always tried to be in control of the way we present our music to our fans, which is why we’ve waited to see the way these online retailers and streaming services operate and gauge the overall fan experience before deciding to include our music…We now feel that Spotify not only has a proven track record, but is by far the best music streaming service. We are beyond psyched to unleash our music through their platform.⁴

Metallica’s entire catalog is now available, but Spotify will be rolling out Led Zeppelin’s catalog over then next few days:

• Wednesday, December 11 – Led Zeppelin (1969) and Led Zeppelin II (1969)
• Thursday, December 12 – Led Zeppelin III (1970) and Untitled fourth album (1971)
• Friday, December 13 – Houses Of The Holy (1973) and Physical Graffiti (1975)
• Saturday, December 14 – Presence (1976) and In Through The Out Door (1979)
• Sunday, December 15 – The Song Remains The Same (1976), Coda (1982), BBC Sessions (1997), How The West Was Won (2003), Mothership (2007), and Celebration Day (2012) ⁵

Here is one of Led Zeppelin’s most rocking tunes – from their most rocking album in my opinion: Physical Graffiti – to commemorate the announcement: