21 votes

Spotify hikes fees, passing on its tax burden, after the French government introduced a levy to support the nation's music industry

13 comments

  1. [10]
    Venko
    Link
    As per the article it's still substantially cheaper than Spotify Premium in the UK. Country Premium in USD France 12.02 USD (11.12 euros) UK 15.24 USD (11.99 pounds sterling) USA 10.99 USD The...

    As per the article it's still substantially cheaper than Spotify Premium in the UK.

    Country Premium in USD
    France 12.02 USD (11.12 euros)
    UK 15.24 USD (11.99 pounds sterling)
    USA 10.99 USD

    The French and UK numbers include taxes which the USA does not. I suspect that Spotify is actually cheaper in France than both the UK and USA after taxes.

    17 votes
    1. [7]
      Macha
      Link Parent
      The highest in the EU is also overselling just how much higher the price is. Like in Ireland it's €10.99 and has been for years. So the new French prices are a shocking.... 13c a month more....

      The highest in the EU is also overselling just how much higher the price is.

      Like in Ireland it's €10.99 and has been for years. So the new French prices are a shocking.... 13c a month more. Actually, they were the same before. I wonder how much of Europe is €10.99.

      10 votes
      1. [6]
        Landhund
        Link Parent
        It's 10.99€ here in Germany as well. I'd assume virtually all of the EU has the same price as well, there usually isn't much variation in price for digital goods within the EU (excluding special...

        I wonder how much of Europe is €10.99.

        It's 10.99€ here in Germany as well. I'd assume virtually all of the EU has the same price as well, there usually isn't much variation in price for digital goods within the EU (excluding special taxes like here).

        8 votes
        1. [3]
          smoontjes
          Link Parent
          €14.61 in Denmark 😶 So France has the highest fees, not the highest price (and so this article is just clickbait in my view)

          €14.61 in Denmark 😶

          So France has the highest fees, not the highest price (and so this article is just clickbait in my view)

          9 votes
          1. [2]
            Landhund
            Link Parent
            Huh, that's unexpected, but thanks for letting me know!

            Huh, that's unexpected, but thanks for letting me know!

            2 votes
            1. sparksbet
              (edited )
              Link Parent
              I presume the author of the article either forgot Denmark exists, or missed it because Denmark doesn't use the Euro (they use the Danish Kroner) and they didn't want to google the conversion rate....

              I presume the author of the article either forgot Denmark exists, or missed it because Denmark doesn't use the Euro (they use the Danish Kroner) and they didn't want to google the conversion rate. Or maybe they thought it was the same as the Swedish Kroner, which is worth a lot less -- Spotify is 119 (Swedish) kroner per month in Sweden, but that works out to 10.35€ right now, which is about 77 Danish kroner.

              And since they bring up the UK and thus clearly aren't limiting themselves to the EU, there are more countries with higher prices. Norway's spotify is 129 (Norwegian) kroner per month, which works out to about 11.30€. And Switzerland pays 13.95 Swiss francs per month, which is around 14.23€ -- even more than Denmark.

              No matter what the explanation, it's very lazy on the part of the author.

              3 votes
        2. [2]
          Sheep
          Link Parent
          7.99€ here in Portugal, and everyone already finds it expensive as is. Can't imagine it going over well if we ever have 10.99 or more. I guess we might be one of those "special cases" because...

          7.99€ here in Portugal, and everyone already finds it expensive as is. Can't imagine it going over well if we ever have 10.99 or more.

          I guess we might be one of those "special cases" because we're poor lol. I'd imagine Eastern European prices follow a similar trend.

          4 votes
    2. vord
      Link Parent
      It's about the same, short of really high sales taxes. My taxes are ~7% sales tax, which puts me around $11.75 but this can vary wildly by locality.

      It's about the same, short of really high sales taxes. My taxes are ~7% sales tax, which puts me around $11.75 but this can vary wildly by locality.

      5 votes
    3. bitwaba
      Link Parent
      God save the Queen('s face on my currency please)

      God save the Queen('s face on my currency please)

      2 votes
  2. [3]
    Eji1700
    Link
    I mean...yeah? Business passing costs off to consumers is pretty much expected?

    I mean...yeah? Business passing costs off to consumers is pretty much expected?

    11 votes
    1. Landhund
      Link Parent
      I always wonder with articles like this what people expect companies to do whenever their cost rise. Just eat the loss and do nothing? That's a good way to run out of money rather quickly...

      I always wonder with articles like this what people expect companies to do whenever their cost rise. Just eat the loss and do nothing? That's a good way to run out of money rather quickly considering how slim profit margins can be when you calculate in all costs.

      6 votes
    2. CptBluebear
      Link Parent
      And it'll still support the music industry, if that was the intention. This was to be expected as well as reasonable.

      And it'll still support the music industry, if that was the intention.

      This was to be expected as well as reasonable.

      6 votes