Spotify wants QR code proof you actually live together

TL;DR: Spotify is sneaking in a new check: If you’re on a Family plan, you may be asked to scan a constantly changing QR code on the plan manager’s phone—and failing to do so comes with major consequences. It’s a leaf out of Netflix’s playbook on account sharing that paid off for the streaming giant, but long-distance families on Spotify aren’t thrilled, and some have already found workarounds.

What happened: Per an updated support page, Spotify Family plan members get seven days to scan the QR code (which changes every few seconds, according to some users). If you miss the window, the penalty is severe—you can’t join another Family or Duo plan for a year. (You’re still welcome to pay for an individual plan, naturally.)

The move could be in pursuit of a much-needed revenue boost for Spotify, which has seen slowing growth in North America and Europe—its two biggest markets—this year. And what better way to do that than squeeze more money from the users it already has? For example, split six ways, a Family plan costs just under $4 a month per member, while an individual plan costs $13.

QR you serious?: Since Spotify’s new code keeps changing, texting a screenshot to your sibling likely won’t suffice. But some users on Reddit have found ways to get around it (like screen sharing the code while video calling).

No place like home: Spotify has tried policing its live-together rule before—users already have to enter an address when they join and occasionally reconfirm it. It even tested asking for a GPS location in 2018, but scrapped it after users revolted.

Netflix and bill: If you feel déjà vu, you’re probably thinking about Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown in 2023 when it started tying accounts to one home wi-fi network, which turned out to be a hit. It saw a massive surge of new signups and added more than 13.1 million subscriptions in a quarter later that year. Unlike Spotify, Netflix still offers users the option to become an “extra member” on an account for a cheaper price than having an individual account. But the sugar high could be wearing off now: Yesterday, Netflix posted its slowest revenue growth in nearly three years, less than a week after it announced layoffs of about 1,000 employees.

Bottom line: Where there’s a will, there’s a workaround, but Spotify’s new check risks pushing subscribers to the free tier or a rival instead of onto its books. —LC