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Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

TL;DR

• Spotify is testing a “Premium Early Access” window that delays brand-new album releases for non-paying accounts by three days in select regions.
• The delay stems from label-level licensing requirements, led by Universal Music Group, which will also affect competing ad-supported services like YouTube Music and Amazon Music.
• Reddit users are largely criticizing the move, warning of increased piracy, while defenders point out lower revenue payouts from ad-supported tiers.

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Just last week, Spotify finally allowed users to opt out of having their recommendations influenced by kids’ and family music, delivering a long-requested feature that keeps children’s music out of your Discover playlists and even Wrapped. Not every change is that well-celebrated, though. Spotify now seems to be testing a far more controversial change: a “Premium Early Access” window that delays brand-new music releases for non-paying users by three days.

According to Reddit user stan_tripleS, free users in select regions, such as India and Bangladesh, are seeing new album releases delayed by a three-day waiting window, which is bypassed exclusively by paying subscribers. While marketed as an “early access” perk for Premium subscribers, Spotify is effectively manufacturing an artificial delay for free accounts rather than delivering music ahead of release dates to Premium users. Before you pick up your pitchforks against Spotify, this particular move may not be Spotify getting greedy on its own accord.