All articles tagged with #premium
Spotify Premium users can now automatically sort Mixed playlists with a new Smart Reorder option in Mix, arranging tracks by BPM and key for a smoother flow between songs while warning that it will override any manual sorting; this follows a recent move to automate playlists with Prompted Playlists.
YouTube Music now caps the number of song lyrics non‑Premium users can view, requiring a Premium subscription to unlock more lyrics. This follows other features being gated behind Premium, with US pricing around $11/month for Music Premium or $14/month bundled with YouTube Premium; European pricing varies.
Google is running an experiment in YouTube Music that limits free users’ access to song lyrics, showing only a few lyric views before prompting a Premium upgrade; the rollout appears broader but non-final, with lyric access varying by test. Lyrics are provided by third parties, and pricing for premium is $11 for music-only or $14 for music plus video. Google says most users won’t see changes as it evaluates the feature.
Free YouTube Music users can view lyrics for up to five songs per month; beyond that, lyrics are blurred and a prompt to unlock with Premium appears, signaling a broader rollout after earlier testing.
YouTube has begun blocking background playback in mobile web browsers for non-Premium users, ending a loophole that had allowed Brave, Vivaldi, Edge, and some Firefox users to play audio or video in the background without a subscription; Google says background playback is exclusive to Premium across platforms, and browser updates aim to close inconsistencies, though some users had previously bypassed the block via user-agent changes.
A premium K-Pop themed collectible, the Demon Hunters figure, is priced at $280 and is now available for preorder, signaling a high-end addition to pop-culture merchandise.
Spotify is expanding its Prompted Playlist beta to Premium listeners in the United States and Canada after testing in New Zealand in December 2025. The feature lets users describe what they want to hear in their own words—moods, moments, or cultural moments—and Spotify generates a playlist drawn from their listening history and current trends. Users can edit prompts, set daily or weekly refreshes, and receive one-line explanations for each track. The idea is a more intuitive, collaborative approach to discovery, with editors providing inspiration prompts; the rollout is in beta and may evolve with usage limits as Spotify learns from feedback.
Zurich Insurance has submitted an improved cash offer of 1,280 pence per Beazley share to acquire 100% of the London-based specialist insurer, a 56% premium to Beazley’s close price and higher than the prior 1,230p bid that Beazley’s board rejected. The proposal would be funded via cash, new debt and an equity placing and is meant to be accretive to Zurich’s 2027 targets, with the deal creating a leading global specialty platform combining Beazley’s Lloyd’s presence. Beazley said its board has not yet considered the enhanced proposal and urged shareholders to wait for updates, even as Beazley stock jumped about 40% on the news.
Spotify has raised US prices for its Premium plans (Individual $12.99/mo, Student $6.99, Duo $18.99, Family $21.99), with changes applying immediately to new subscribers and at the next billing cycle for existing ones. The move follows the rollout of Lossless streaming and positions Spotify as more expensive than Apple Music, Tidal, and YouTube Music, prompting readers to consider switching to alternatives that offer higher-quality audio or different value propositions.
Spotify will raise its Premium plan price from $11.99 to $12.99 per month in the United States, with the increase also applying to Estonia and Latvia; the company says the change reflects the value it delivers and helps support artists, as investors note the stock has fallen amid restructuring and leadership shifts toward co-CEOs.
Spotify is updating Premium prices and notifying subscribers in the United States, Estonia, and Latvia by email; new pricing details are available at spotify.com/premium, with a range of plans to suit different users while reflecting the value Spotify delivers and supporting artists.
Spotify will raise the U.S. Premium price to $12.99 from $11.99 starting February, with Estonia and Latvia also seeing increases; the last U.S. hike was July 2024. The move accompanies Spotify’s push into video and creator monetization, including a Netflix podcast partnership and expanded eligibility for its Spotify Partner Program, even as ad revenue remains weak. In its latest results, Spotify reported about 281 million paying subscribers and solid revenue growth, amid a leadership shift with Daniel Ek becoming executive chairman and Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström stepping in as co-CEOs.
Microsoft's Xbox president, Sarah Bond, hints that the upcoming Xbox console will be a high-end, premium experience, moving away from the affordability of the Xbox Series S, and indicating a focus on a curated, high-end gaming ecosystem. Despite recent price hikes and a shift towards AI and cloud services, there is uncertainty about the future hardware strategy, but the new console is expected to emphasize quality and integration.
The iPhone Air is a highly design-focused device that prioritizes aesthetics and simplicity over features and utility, appealing to those who value design above all else, despite its limited functionality and struggling sales.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is a high-end gaming headset priced at $599.99, offering premium features like hi-res wireless audio, carbon fiber speakers, and a durable metal build, aiming to set a new standard for luxury gaming headsets, though its high price may be a concern for some.