Spotify is reportedly developing new tools that would allow Premium subscribers to remix songs from their favorite artists by speeding them up, slowing them down, or mashing them together.
According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, the goal is to capitalize on the popular trend of fan-made song edits and remixes, which are frequently shared on social media platforms like TikTok.
The music streaming giant hopes that enabling this kind of user-generated content will deepen engagement with younger audiences and open up a new revenue stream for artists and labels.
Under the reported plans, basic remix tools like speed control would be available to all Premium subscribers, while more advanced remix capabilities may be part of a potential “Supremium” higher-tier subscription.
While fan remixes and edits of songs are already widely created and shared, the current landscape means artists don’t get paid for these unofficial manipulations.
Spotify’s remix tools would allow for an official, licensed way for this type of creative content to exist on the platform itself, with royalties paid to rights holders.
The trend of speeding up or slowing down songs has exploded in popularity on TikTok and other video-sharing apps. Data indicates that 38% of music content on TikTok in 2023 had its speed or pitch altered, up 25% from 2022.
Artists have taken notice, with some pre-emptively releasing “sped-up” versions of their songs to try to capitalize on the fandom.
However, Spotify’s plans are still in the early discussion phase, with no licensing deals in place yet with major record labels.
The ultimate goal would reportedly be to allow these official remixes and edits to live on Spotify itself, rather than being easily shareable outside the music service to platforms like TikTok.
If successful, Spotify’s remix tools could be a way to meet Gen Z listeners where their interests lie, while opening up a new revenue model for the streaming era. But key questions remain around pricing, platform openness, and whether artists will embrace handing over their music to be remixed en masse.
