Support Credits for Creators

[S41D]

I propose a system that directly connects fans and artists at no extra cost to the user, inspired by YouTube memberships and Discord boosts but naturally integrated into Spotify. Each Premium plan comes with monthly "Support Credits" included at no extra charge (2 credits for Individual, 3 for Duo, 5 for Family, and 1 for Student); these credits renew automatically but expire if unused by the end of the month. Users choose which artist receives each credit (changing their selection monthly or keeping it fixed) and in return gain benefits such as "Early Access" to new releases (up to 48 hours before the public premiere, if enabled by the artist), exclusive content like acoustic versions, demos, or behind-the-scenes notes, and a spot on the artist's public "Supporters" list, complete with a badge indicating the duration of their support. For artists, each credit received represents direct additional income independent of stream counts, a visible list of their most loyal community members, and a new metric of genuine loyalty beyond monthly listeners. They also retain full control over enabling benefits, community goals, or unlockable content, all of which enhances the music-listening experience, strengthens the bond between creators and listeners, and adds value to the subscription without raising the price.