The Rich Kid Feeling is Gone: Why I’m Finally Breaking Up With Spotify
I met Spotify when I was a teenager in India, back when “loading” was a personality trait.
We had finally escaped the dark ages of slow 2G and patchy 3G. The speeds were actually decent—fast enough to stream, fast enough to dream—but we weren’t free. We lived in the tyranny of the Daily Data Limit.
I didn’t have today’s 5G unlimited luxury. I had a strict daily quota that I guarded like a dragon guarding gold. In that era, using the internet wasn’t just about connection; it was about calculation.
I always wanted to use the “cool” international brands — Netflix, Spotify. But they were locked doors. When Spotify finally launched in India, I didn’t just sign up. I felt… rich.
I bought Premium even though I had zero income. My friends asked, “Why pay for music when piracy exists?” They didn’t get it. I wasn’t just paying for songs. I was paying for the feeling of belonging to the modern world. I was paying for those high-quality beats that sounded crisp in the expensive earphones I saved up months to buy.
Spotify became my soundtrack. It knew my moods. It knew when I needed to cry and when I needed to run.
But today, that relationship is over. The “rich kid” feeling is gone, replaced by a feeling I hate: being ripped off.
The “Lite” Trap: Paying More to Get Less
I’m not against price hikes. I understand inflation. I understand that servers cost money. What I am against is the confusing math Spotify is now forcing on us.
Here is the current situation with the plans, and why it feels like a betrayal:
- The “Lite” Plan (₹139/month): This costs what the “good” plan used to cost. But here is the catch — it caps your audio quality at up to ~160kbps.
The Reality: 160kbps in 2025 is an insult. It sounds mushy. It lacks depth. It’s like watching a 4K movie on a 720p screen. They stripped away the “Premium” feeling.
- The “Standard” Plan (₹199/month): To get the actual high-quality audio I’ve loved for years (320kbps), I now have to pay significantly more.
- The “Platinum” Wall (₹299/month): This is what actually made me quit. They locked all the exciting new features here.
Want Lossless Audio (CD Quality)? Pay ₹299.
Want the AI DJ and new Mixing Tools? Pay ₹299.
It feels like buying a video game, but realizing you have to buy the DLC just to play the fun levels. The “Standard” plan feels like maintenance mode, while the “Platinum” plan is where the actual party is. I don’t want to feel like a second-class citizen on an app I’ve loved for years.
I stayed for years because of the ecosystem — the Daily Mixes, the Wrapped reports, the Jam sessions. But when the basic requirement of a music app (good sound) becomes a luxury tier, it’s time to look elsewhere.
Why Not Apple Music? (The “Sterile” Problem)
When I complain about audio quality, everyone tells me: “Just switch to Apple Music! They have Lossless audio.”
They are right. Apple’s audio quality is technically superior. But I can’t do it.
Apple Music feels like a library. It’s clean, organized, and quiet. The algorithm is too “safe.” If I listen to a popular pop song, it suggests another popular pop song. It rarely surprises me.
Spotify was like a cool friend who introduced me to weird underground bands. Apple Music is like a librarian handing me the Top 40 list. I need the chaos. I need the discovery.
Why YouTube Music is the Real Winner
This brings me to my new home: YouTube Music (YTM).
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You mentioned that YTM has lossless audio. Actually, here is a reality check: YouTube Music strictly speaking doesn’t have Lossless audio yet. It tops out at 256kbps AAC.
But wait — don’t panic. 256kbps AAC is a newer, smarter format than Spotify’s MP3s. To human ears, it sounds just as crisp and punchy as Spotify’s best quality. Unless you are a studio engineer, you won’t miss the extra bits.
Here is why YTM wins, even without Lossless:
- The “Deep Cuts” Database: Spotify only has official albums. YouTube has everything. That live concert recording from 2014? The “Slowed + Reverb” remix you found at 3 AM? The unreleased acoustic version? It’s all on YouTube Music.
- The Algorithm Knows My “Video Self”: Spotify only knows what I listen to. YouTube knows what I watch. It connects the dots between the video essays I watch and the music I might like. It feels smarter.
- The “Value” Argument: This is the killer feature. For a price cheaper than Spotify’s Standard plan, I get YouTube Premium.
- I get Music (Ad-free).
- I get Videos (Ad-free).
- I get Background Play.
Spotify wants ₹199 just for audio. YouTube gives me the entire video ecosystem for less. It’s simple math.
What About Future Price Hikes?
You asked: “What if YouTube hikes their prices too?”
The truth: They already did. YouTube recently adjusted their prices (Individual to ~₹149 and Family plans up to ~₹299).
The silver lining: Since they just did this, we are likely safe for another year or two. And even with the hike, the bundle (Music + Video) is still miles ahead of Spotify’s “Music Only” value.
The Breakup Note
Spotify, we had a good run. You made me feel rich when I had nothing. You gave my teenage years a soundtrack.
But you got greedy. You split “features” into “plans” until the joy was gone. You made decent audio quality a luxury tax.
I’m taking my playlists and leaving for Google. The interface might be a bit messier, and the vibe is different, but at least I’m not paying extra just to hear the cymbals clearly.
It’s not me, it’s definitely you.
P.S. I’m writing this with Indian pricing, but let’s be real — this isn’t just an India problem. It’s a corporate greed problem. Whether you are in New York paying dollars or London paying pounds, the strategy is the same: strip the features, hike the price, and hope we are too lazy to switch. The “Platinum” wall I hit today is likely the “Supremium” tier coming to you tomorrow. We can’t stop their boardroom math. We can’t force them to listen. All we can do is vote with our exit button and vent about it on the internet. Consider this my vote.
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