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Spotify has announced updates to the Spotify lyrics feature, aiming to boost engagement and subscriptions. The company revealed the changes on Wednesday. Users will now see lyrics translations globally. Premium subscribers will also access lyrics while offline. Spotify has repositioned lyrics within the app for greater visibility.
The updates follow years of experimentation with the Spotify lyrics feature. In 2024, Spotify attempted to restrict lyrics behind a paywall. That move triggered widespread user complaints. The company later reversed course and restored broader access. Now, Spotify hopes premium-only offline lyrics will encourage upgrades.
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Spotify has also changed where lyrics appear during playback. Lyrics now sit directly beneath album artwork or looping videos. According to Spotify, user testing showed stronger engagement after the move. The company believes visibility matters for habitual use of the Spotify lyrics feature. Users can still share lyric snippets through the Now Playing screen.
New Feature Targets Engagement and Subscriptions
The offline lyrics option will remain exclusive to Premium subscribers. Spotify views this as a clear incentive to upgrade. Free users will continue accessing lyrics online only. The strategy reflects Spotify’s broader push to convert free listeners. The Spotify lyrics feature plays a central role in that effort.
In addition, Spotify has expanded lyrics translations worldwide. The company first introduced translations in 2022. Previously, only 25 markets supported the feature. Now, translations are available globally. Users can tap a translate icon within the Spotify lyrics update to view translated text.
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Translations appear beneath the original lyrics. Spotify says the language defaults to the device’s settings. This approach simplifies access for international listeners. It also helps users understand foreign-language music more easily. Spotify sees this as a way to deepen listening experiences through the Spotify lyrics feature.
Spotify Lyrics Feature Reflects Long Rollout History
Spotify’s lyrics journey has been uneven. Licensing issues slowed earlier rollouts. For years, users demanded real-time lyrics access. Spotify finally launched live lyrics globally in 2021. That followed limited tests starting in 2019. Before that, Spotify partnered with Genius to display partial lyrics.
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The Genius integration mixed trivia with selected lyrics. However, users wanted full, synchronised lyrics. Spotify eventually secured broader licensing agreements. Those deals allowed global expansion of the Spotify lyrics feature. Since then, Spotify has treated lyrics as a core engagement tool.
The latest updates signal renewed focus. Spotify wants lyrics to drive time spent in the app. It also wants features that justify paid subscriptions. Offline access and translations fit that goal. Interestingly, the changes strengthen the Spotify lyrics update as a competitive differentiator.
Spotify says rollout has begun on iOS and Android devices. Both free and paid users will see the redesigned lyrics layout. Only Premium users will receive offline access. Spotify plans to monitor engagement closely. The Spotify lyrics feature will likely evolve further based on user response.
