Retirement of our Running Feature

[meahtenoha]

Hey everyone, the Spotify Community team here.

We’re here to let you know we will be retiring our Running feature on 26 February 2018.

We always take retiring features in Spotify very seriously. We’re pouring our energy into new ways of creating the best experience for our users.

Of course, you can still workout with Spotify as your Running companion. You can find Running playlists in the Workout section of Browse section.

You can also connect your Spotify running music with an exercise app. Check out our support articles on Nike+ Run Club and Runkeeper for more information.

If you’re interested to learn more about how the app evolves, check out our article about testing and why features change.

Please post here with any questions or feedback you might have. We’ll be sure it reaches the right teams.

Thanks!

[winduptoy]

I really miss Chase playlist. This one was my favourite to keep tempo and enjoy my training. I was so focused and all of those alternatives? Not so good ones. And this text "start running to detect tempo" - ooh, Spoify, what have you done? 😞

[KielerJung]

Are you serious? I started to make sport with this feature! I lost over 30kg with running with this Spotify feature!

Why did you do that? Why should I pay 10EUR per Month for an App which is getting more and more badly?

[atreid555]

This is a totally IDIOTIC decision! Pure and simple! Why not keep it! WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS! I'm a premium user and I'm totally freaking mad about it! Screw that!!!

[jbeckemeier]

One of the main reasons why I payed for Spotify premium. Will definitely consider going back to Apple Music now.

[jessicaspeigel]

I understand features have to be retired... but the personalized running mix was great for both running and regular workouts. I've really felt its absence... I was hoping it was just a blip, but then I found this thread. The playlists in the workout and running genres tend to the mainstream rock/pop/hiphop and those of us who trend more toward the indie side of the spectrum are out in the cold. I love the daily mixes, but I'm not sure why I need 6 of those, but can't have one personalized workout/running mix.

[TElsone]

I personally loved this feature so I'm annoyed to see it mothballed!

[CantRunAnymore]

The running feature is honestly the only reason I pay for Spotify. I’m not just saying that. I won’t make any empty threats to stop subscribing, I will probably just end up using the app less.

FAIL!

[sejtenik]

Spotify announced their new running feature https://news.spotify.com/us/2018/03/12/john-hancock-spotify-running/

It is a joke! My playlist generated by "John Hancock" is full of lullabyes, the same I listen with my kids. How am I supposed to run with this??

[lanc68]

Ha, this is supposed to replace the running feature. Yes it's picking things I'd listen to, but not even close to what is needed for dreadmill days... :sigh: 

Agreed, it's a bit of a joke really...  

[jonas1973]

Been running several times now without listening to Spotify. Still making the mistake starting it before turning it off. Annoying. Nevermind, I have resorted to Rockmyrun instead. Found one list w 160 bpm (some eightiees music). Worked really good, helped me getting through another run in the snow slush. Perhaps the audio quality was poorer compared to Spotify, but who cares when the functionality of the former favourite is lost.

Tips on functional music service for running is highly welcome, lets help each other out. 

[Odaeus]

Who on earth is John Hancock! Google says an investment fund or a guy from the 18th century.

So it seems safe to say the running feature was retired in preparation for this sponsorship deal. I really hope they are paying you a lot for it Spotify.

(ref https://news.spotify.com/us/2018/03/12/john-hancock-spotify-running/)

[mwgburgman]

That is quite a nasty surprise to just remove this feature.

I use this for several hours in the week during my workout.

The alternative lists are sh*t. There is a HUGE difference in working out at 145 - 160BPM.

Please return this feature!

[this_is_douglas]

I'd just like to say that the Running feature was perhaps the feature I used the most within the whole of Spotify, and was absolutely brilliant. I did my first run today and discovered that it had been retired - so frustrating. It's also probably one of the main reason I keep up my subscription.

Clearly you've already made this decision - regardless, I believe it was the wrong one.

[theiq]

You removed your unique selling point, if i just want to listen to fast music, there are various apps around. You should focus on getting better and not on removing beloved features.

[fatherdave]

This was my main reason for using Spotify and for upgrading to the paid version. I really loved the 'running originals'. Have they really simply been deleted? I can't find them anywhere.

I'd be grateful if anyone could point me in the direction of another program that does what Spotify USED to do.

Father Dave - parish priest and professional boxer

[Triplebben]

Hi there. Deezer is an alt to Spotify but no running feature as far as I
know. Fit Radio is quite good. 30 day free trial then <£30 a year.

[wrzlbrn]

To answer your question: Google told me John Hancock is one of the largest life insurers in the United States. This is what they say on their homepage:

https://www.johnhancock.com/news/boston-marathon/2018/03/john-hancock-and-spotify-give-runners-every...

Apparently our beloved Running Genre fell victim to this deal between Spotify and that insurance company   :-((

These John-Hancock-Insurance-Playlists Spotify is offering now as a replacement are deplorable & ridiculous. I scrutinized the playlists which were provided to me via Spotify – the speed varies from 89 to 181 bpm!!!!!!! Absolutely useless.

[Jhfairch]

Boo.  This was a major reason for my membership. It was a unique feature that I couldn’t find on any other app.  Does Apple do this?  Im off to find out.  

[Martzw]

Wow - good find. And there's our business reason. Makes it sting even
worse!

[Fenias]

My threat, if you can call it that, isn’t empty. I canceled my premium subscription the day I found out about this. I just follow the thread out of curiosity. It’s clear the Running functionality is gone forever, replaced by some garbage playlists that were thrown in as some sort of sponsorship deal with John Hancock.

For those that still subscribe, is there anything left in Spotify that makes it as good as the multitude of other streaming apps out there?