Premium users hearing ads in music

[Maria]

We've received reports that active Premium users are hearing ads interrupting their music listening experience.

[Loneliest_Cabin]

Hi @elr0ndk, where are you hearing these ads? Can you give us specific details of what you're listening to, and ideally a screen recording if possible. Is it a playlist, Music, Podcasts? 

[elr0ndk]

@Loneliest_Cabin I have already shared before that happens only with podcasts, AND only from the phone, no problems on the laptop (MacOS, from the app, not web), that's why I think it's not an ad that the podcast is "forcing", otherwise I'd see/hear it also on the laptop, right?
I have updated the app after the "fix" was notified, but I have restarted it and the issue was still happening; Then I tried again, a few minutes back, but probably I'm not getting the ad as I need to listen a bit to see it again. 

The podcast I'm talking about, if that makes the difference, is: 
https://open.spotify.com/show/4HAxuHe75m4b1Wq0sAtBkV

[Loneliest_Cabin]

Hi @elr0ndk, as we've just shared in the status update (and earlier in this discussion), you may hear ads while listening to Podcasts, even if you are a Premium user. This has always been the case. You should not hear ads during Music playback - which is the temporary issue that was fixed recently. 

[elr0ndk]

@Loneliest_Cabin i don't understand why this has started happening when the issue with music started as well... I have never heard a single ad until about 1 week ago, reaching about 50 episodes.

I think that might be a similar issue but, as the agreement is "podcasts' listening might be affected by ads", no one is checking it.

In addition to that, I can add that right before the beginning of the issue with the ads, the podcast disappeared for about 3 days from the search results while being still "functioning" if I had it in the queue. 

There's something wrong, definitely.

I have a screen recording but can't upload it here 

[Chad88]

I have always had ads on Spotify Premium. When I brought the concern to your agents years ago, they were well aware of it and gave dishonest explanations. Not only do podcasters read their own ads, which can't be stopped, but then Spotify plays region specific ads in the middle of podcasts in multiple languages, sometimes 4  an episode. We are owed money, because Premium does not offer what it claims. For you to pretend this is new is insulting.

[OrsiB]

You claim the issue is solved but I've just begun experiencing the problem with ads. It's not during podcasts but during playlists. Pretty annoying. Android, Samsung S23 ultra.

[elr0ndk]

It's actually frustrating because the explanation that "podcasts might be affected by ads" is something that's specified in the claims about what Premium does/doesn't offer but doesn't justify the difference between the listening experiences in different platforms: I'd expect a consistent behaviour between apps regardless of being on MacOS or Android.

What happens is that, instead, there is no consistency between them and the complaints are dismissed because it's specified in the conditions that can happen. 

As a developer, I am aware of the troubles of identifying issues that might be very subtle, nevertheless it keeps being important to not "hide behind a finger", it's a translated Italian expression meaning that people should not look for silly excuses to not do something.

[Loneliest_Cabin]

Hey everyone, just to address a few things:

• @OrsiB please make sure the app is updated, and then check again if you are receiving ads during Music playback. There was a temporary issue which has now been resolved. If you are still receiving ads during Music playback, can you please specify what playlist you are receiving ads in - ideally with a screen recording and timestamp of when it occurred. Let us know the App version you are using. Remember, some playlists also contain Podcasts, so you may still hear ads while listening to a playlist like that, eg Daily Drive.
• @elr0ndk This is expected behaviour, even for that specific podcast. Each Creator can decide on how Ads are present in their podcast. Sometimes they are limited to how many times you will be served an ad. I would expect if you listened to a different episode of that same show on Desktop, you will get an ad. But this is not guaranteed, as it depends how the creator has set it up. I tested this myself, and got an Ad for Episode 81 on Mobile. Then I changed to Desktop and didn't get an Ad for episode 81. I then changed to episode 80 and did get an Ad on Desktop. 

I hope this helps clarify things.

[elr0ndk]

@Loneliest_Cabin it doesn't make it clearer for me.

As said, I have just re-tried on my laptop, no ads... If you want I can screen record 1 hour of playing from the desktop to let you see, I only have ads on the phone, with every episode even if I switch after 1 minute of playing another, and only with this one podcast, I have tried many and not ads are played. 😅

[Loneliest_Cabin]

There's no need @elr0ndk ! Each user, based on their market and other factors will have a different experience. Enjoy the ad free desktop experience! 😀