Why I Finally Left Spotify

For years, Spotify was my go-to music streaming platform. I loved the vast library, the curated playlists, and the convenience of having millions of songs at my fingertips. However, after a long period of weighing the pros and cons, I made the decision to leave Spotify. This isn’t a rant, but rather a breakdown of my reasons for switching to another service.

Shifting Priorities

My music listening habits have changed. I started to prioritize supporting artists directly. Platforms like Bandcamp allow me to purchase music, ensuring a larger portion of my money reaches the creators I enjoy. With Spotify, the compensation model for artists, especially smaller ones, has always felt inadequate. The debate about artist compensation on streaming services continues, and it played a significant role in my decision.

Sound Quality Concerns

Although Spotify has improved its audio quality over the years, it still doesn’t match the fidelity offered by some competitors. Services like Tidal and Qobuz offer lossless audio streaming, providing a much richer and more detailed listening experience. As an audiophile, this difference became increasingly important to me. While Spotify announced a HiFi tier years ago, it still has not materialized, pushing me to consider alternatives.

Discovering New Music

While Spotify’s algorithms are good at suggesting popular tracks, I found myself stuck in a bubble, hearing the same types of music repeatedly. I craved a more diverse and personalized discovery experience. I started exploring other platforms known for their curated playlists and community-driven recommendations, offering music discovery based on more than just popularity. For example, I now use YouTube Music, which also has a great music catalog.

Ethical Considerations

Beyond music itself, I began to consider the ethical implications of supporting certain companies. There are growing concerns about data privacy, fair labor practices, and the overall impact of large tech corporations. While no platform is perfect, some are making more of an effort to address these issues. I’ve since read many articles like the one published by EFF on digital privacy.