Spotify is enhancing its free tier globally with "Pick & Play," "Search & Play," and "Share & Play" features. Free users can now play any song directly or via search and social media shares, a significant upgrade from previous shuffle-only access. While some restrictions remain for free users compared to Premium subscribers, this move aims to boost engagement and ad revenue, addressing Spotify's slower-than-expected ad growth. Lossless audio and AI-powered features remain Premium exclusive.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.