Spotify raises prices by up to $2 in Canada and other countries

Spotify on Monday raised prices for its premium plans across several countries including the United States the United Kingdom, France, Mexico and Canada, as the music-streaming company looks to boost profitability in an uncertain economy.

The move will result in a $1 or $2 price increase in the local currency for Spotify plans in the U.S. and Canada, with the discounted student plan up by $1 to $5.99, a “premium” plan for one user up by the same amount to $10.99, a “duo” plan for two people up $2 to $14.99, and a family plan that can be shared by multiple members of the same household going from $15.99 to $16.99.

Spotify has moved in recent months to boost margins with hundreds of layoffs and a restructuring of the podcast unit, which it had built up with billions of dollars in investment.

The price increases come at a time when streaming services, both audio and video, are under rising investor pressure to boost profitability after years of prioritizing user growth.

Rivals services from Apple and Amazon.com and Tidal have all increased prices this year, while YouTube also hiked prices last week on its monthly and annual premium plans in the U.S. for the first time since the subscription service was launched in 2018.

Spotify, which had indicated in April that it would raise prices in 2023, had also raised prices in 46 countries last year.

The Sweden-based company posted quarterly earnings early Tuesday morning that showed it added 27 per cent more customers to 551 million worldwide, but its quarterly loss widened to 302 million euros.