Please continue supporting iOS/Android streaming SDKs

[florom]

We have been using those SDKs since they became available.

Our particular app (Amazing Slow Downer) lets the user play music more slowly, since a couple of years ago also songs from Spotify. The "ios-streaming-sdk" is a beautifully designed framework that lets an audio developer do practically everything needed.
In our case it makes it possible to access the raw audio samples and this way process the sound and then playback the processed audio using our regular audio playback engine. With your new SDK this is not possible. It might be that the "ios-streaming-sdk" is more difficult to use for an average developer but that also makes it more powerful.

We have many users that uses Spotify. Many users switch from other streaming services such as "Apple Music", Tidal, Amazon Music etc to Spotify just to be able to slow down streaming music in real time.

We believe our app gives Spotify many many new subscribers, so many that it would actually pay off for Spotify to maintain the "ios-streaming-sdk".

We only use "playlist" functions and after fixing a couple of bugs in the "metadata framework" available on github, everything works 100%. Although there are certainly some bugs in the “ios-streaming-sdk”, they are very few and don’t affect our app.

We also have an Android version of our app that uses your Android streaming SDK and it also works very good.

We believe Spotify will loose thousands of users, so many that the minimal cost Spotify need to spend on maintenance will pay off manifold.

Since our app also supports playback and slowing down of streaming Apple Music, many of our users will probably switch from subscribing to Spotify to subscribing to Apple Music.

You write:

"After September 1st, important functionality in the streaming SDKs will stop working."
Exactly what does that mean? What part of the SDK will continue to work?

Please continue supporting iOS/Android streaming SDKs!

Rolf Nilsson
CTO
Roni Music

[sugarmagnolia1]

I use Spotify all day, every day and have been a Spotify Premium subscriber since it was made available in the US. I am a Spotify evangelist - I have converted countless friends, family members, and colleagues to the service. I am also a musician and use the Amazing Slow Downer app every day to learn songs on guitar. If Spotify no longer supports this feature, I will be forced to switch to another music streaming service. Please continue supporting this functionality in the old SDK until it can be successfully rolled into the new SDK, as it should be, and keep your hardcore subscribers happy.

[Dktr_rekt]

I assume there’s an issue arising with ad play being avoided by using the app. I would just demand that the Slow Downer app team develops a way to make sure that only paying Spotify subscribers can connect their account to the Slow Downer. 

[bradmevans]

Pulling support for the SDK is a terrible idea. I use Amazing Slow Downer literally every day to help practice music. I will most likely end my Premium Family subscription to Spotify if I lose this functionality.

[claytorama]

Spotify, please allow the Amazing Slow Downer to continue accessing your content! I’m a professional violinist and I use Spotify and the Amazing Slow Downer on a daily basis. Being able to adjust the pitch level and speed of recordings is a vital part of my working process as I prepare for performances. I will definitely be switching to Apple Music if this decision isn’t reversed. The Amazing Slow Downer is a vital tool for my students and part of the draw is that it integrates with Spotify. Please reconsider this topic as soon as possible.  

[omwl4nj-_wdi]

I am a musician and music teacher that uses Spotify Premium  and the Amazing Slow Downer together on an almost daily basis. Please don't change Spotify so that it no longer works with ASD. If the changes are made, I will be forced to cancel my Spotify subscription. 

[omwl4nj-_wdi]

I am a musician and music teacher that uses Spotify Premium  and the Amazing Slow Downer together on an almost daily basis. Please don't change Spotify so that it no longer works with ASD. If the changes are made, I will be forced to cancel my Spotify subscription. 

[nkoenig]

Please allow the Amazing Slow Downer Application to continue to work with Spotify, it’s a great tool for musicians. Why to change this. One of the reason for me for using Spotify is to combine it with the Amazing Slow Downer app.

Thank you, please reconsider this decision.

Nicolas

[alohahawaiikiki]

I was leaving a similar comment in a different thread, but not sure why it disappeared (deleted by Spotify? by the author?).

I didn't know that Apple Music currently supports an integration with ASD. But it would be a pity to move to Apple Music. Especially, taking the complaints Spotify has to Apple, related to unfair competition. 

I'm using Amazing Slow Downer application to practice music, and it's being a very important tool for me. It helps me a lot growing in my musicianship.

I really love the integration Amazing Slow Downer with Spotify, so I can transcribe and play along with any music, available on Spotify. This simplifies life a lot.

On another note, this particular integration is one of the main reasons, why I stay with Spotify. I also have a Tidal subscription to listen to the music in high resolution on my HiFi stereo system.

But if Spotify decides to close the SDK and also decided to not pursue high-res (Spotify HiFi) direction, I'm afraid, I will have very few reasons to keep the subscription. 

Please, keep the SDK, it's instrumental for musicians community, and it would be very considerate from Spotify's side to take it into account.

[alohahawaiikiki]

Myself working in tech, I'm afraid, the reason, most likely is much simpler. Someone calculated the cost of maintaining the SDK, and decided, that keeping it doesn't worth the efforts spent on the maintenance. That is why tech platforms frequently just deprecate some functionality.

But in this case, in my opinion, Spotify should consider more than just the maintenance cost. ASD is about growing musicians, be it a professional musician, or just someone, who wants to understand music better by transcribing, playing along, etc. And Spotify first of all is about music, isn't it? It would be very inconsiderate in relation to the large musicians community (some of which, btw, produce the content, hosted on Spotify), to just simply deprecate the SDK with a such short notice and without a good research, how, and in what volumes the SDK is being used.

The fact, that Spotify hasn't provided any reply so far is indeed worrying. But I hope, it might be a good sign - like some internal discussions, etc.

Fingers crossed. I don't want to move to Apple, but if Spotify decides to deprecate the SDK, I will be forced to.

[unomark]

I see a lot of people in my network of musicians that are talking about this. I'm using ASD + Spotify to rehearse tricky parts in songs, so it's an awesome combo. A lot of people are now switching from Spotfy to Tidal and another app in order to be able to continue this. I agree with Roni Music that there probably will a lot of musicians that will do this. Hope you can find a solution!

[LStanfield]

Being able to slow down music via ASD is the main reason I subscribe to Spotify. I will have no choice but to subscribe to Apple Music instead so that I can continue to reap the rewards of being able to slow down music to aid my music learning and teaching. 

[Carlstorey]

I am a musician who uses Spotify every day in my practice routine. Please keep the software to allow us to slow down and change the pitch of the music. This is an extremely important and essential aspect of Spotify for me. I would be forced to look elsewhere for my music if this capability is removed. Thanks

[Rehbr]

Thank you so much. This has helped me out so much. Thank you so much. 

[G-bone22]

Not sure why Spotify would want to cut ties with asd. I’m sure it all comes down to money. Whatever the case may be, I am a music instructor who relies on ASD for my lessons. ASD is an invaluable tool I will continue to use and Spotify goes through with this, I will be forced to switch to Apple Music. First world problems but still annoying nonetheless.

[michikosakai]

A big reason I subscribe Spotify is that I can use it with Amazing Slow Downer.  It would be so disappointing if Spotify stops its ability for users to enjoy and learn music.

[Samuel251]

Spotify, please, please, please don´t remove the compatibility with Amazing Slow Downer! It has been the most useful tool for me while learning music! I really don´t wanna make the switch to Apple Music but I would have to if you do this! And I´m sure many others would follow. This action would for sure have a huge economic effect for Spotify!

[April101]

As a dance studio owner, my staff and I use Spotify with Amazing Slow Down regularly. We will have to look into other options aside from Spotify, if this is not changed. We hope you will reconsider this change, from not only myself but my staff as well.

[rls27]

Like many other posters before me, I use AmazingSlowDowner to practice playing music at a slower speed. Although I don’t use the Spotify functionality exclusively, it would be a shame if this function goes away. The fact that this option exists with Spotify makes it more valuable than other streaming services. Please ensure its continued support.

[bjurasin]

I also am a music teacher and transcriber. The combination of Spotify and ASD has been essential to my lessons. Please reconsider.

[user-removed]

I just signed up for a 3 month trial of Spotify in order to use songs on Amazing Slow Downer for transcription services. I absolutely will not continue with Spotify streaming services after the 3 month period if Spotify doesn't reverse this decision to ban 3rd party apps. Unbelievably disappointed.