How can I stop getting in-app recommendations?

[johnwastle]

I've attached an example of some Direct marketing sent my way.

How can I stop it?

Plan

Premium

Country

UK

Device

IPhone 12

Operating System

iOS 17.1

[rmb62470]

They're turning off ads based on your basic Spotify account information. In other words, now they will recommend you concerts based on something else.

[Bibelbrann]

Hi Maria, I have the updated version of the app on android, but still got this 'issue' today. I do have premium and pay for this service, so I reckon I should be able to opt out of commercial content. The solution you're mentioning is not in place. See attachments. 

[bricostello]

This is not the answer to the question asked.  The "fix" listed does nothing- it's intended for notifications outside of the Spotify application itself.  What is happening is you'll be using the Spotify app on your iPhone (and, presumably, Android, iPad, etc), and an IN-APP dropdown will show up, usually just as you're about to tap something towards the top of the screen, advertising a concert in your area.  Doesn't matter if you clear it, doesn't matter if you tap it and follow the links, doesn't matter if you already have a ticket to the show- it will pop up every time you open the Spotify app.  I love King Gizzard, and I'm going to their local show in August.  Will I have to deal with this nonsense for the next 8 months?  Likely.  I've been dealing with it for 3 already.  And yes, despite it calling itself a "recommendation" or "alert," this is an ADVERTISEMENT, plain and simple.  I pay a premium to avoid those.  Get your sh!t together, Spotify, and stop annoying your paying subscribers.

[Moke123]

What are you using instead? Does apple do this? Beyond sick of it and the pop-ups for new music too. 

[Eddy_bola]

Nobody does this except Spotify😉 Right now I’m using YT Music.

[Eddy_bola]

Same problem over here, and the response is just a big **bleep** you to everybody. https://community.spotify.com/t5/Android/Disable-concert-banner-and-duo-popups-I-get-every-week/m-p/...

[Vasil]

Hey folks!

Premium users should be able to opt out from these sponsored recommendations by tapping 'What's this' -> 'Opt me out'

We've made some changes backstage, so this should now be working as intended.

In case the issue still persists on your ends, log out and back into your app twice in a row to trigger a manual sync of your settings. Should the issue remain after this - follow the steps for a complete clean reinstall of the app here, which should resolve it for you.

In case you continue getting the sponsored recommendations though, we'd like to know the following details:

• Your affected device's model
• Its OS version
• Your Spotify app version
  
  

We'll be on the lookout for your replies 🙂
Many thanks!

[Vasil]

Hey @Bibelbrann,

Premium users should now be able to opt out of these sponsored recommendations by tapping 'What's this' -> 'Opt me out'

We've made some changes backstage, so this should now be working as intended.

In case the issue still persists on your end, log out and back into your app twice in a row to trigger a manual sync of your settings. Should the issue remain after this - follow the steps for a complete clean reinstall of the app here, which should resolve it for you.

In case you continue getting the sponsored recommendations though, we'd like to know the following details:

• Your affected device's model
• Its OS version
• Your Spotify app version

The same goes for anyone still experiencing this issue 🙂
We'll be on the lookout for new replies!

[oortone]

I managed to get in touch with a real support person (after some robot chatting) and was recommended to try "off load" (not sure what it's called in English iOS but it's when you remove an application without deleting it completely) Spotify, restart the phone then download Spotify from Appstore again. This was a week ago and this far I have not seen any new advertisments. If it does not work I will report again.

[johnwastle]

As mentioned earlier, I emailed Spotify’s Data Protection Officer (DPO)**bleep** in December to complain about in-app notifications.

A bit of context about my complaint:
I am resident in the United Kingdom. The Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This says that individuals have an absolute right to stop their data being used for direct marketing. ( https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/individual-rights/individual-rig... )

More specifically, PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003) is a UK law that implements the EU’s ePrivacy Directive (Directive 2002/58/EC) and set out privacy rights relating to electronic communications.

PECR says that if a customer opts out of Direct Marketing, it is unlawful to send Direct Marketing via email, SMS or in-app messaging.

If you are resident in the European Union, you will have a law that implements GDPR. And also one that implements the ePrivacy Directive. 

I now have a reply which simply tells me that they have “disabled in-app messages on my Premium account.”

I have emailed them again to ask whether other Spotify users can opt-out of in-app notifications? And if so, how would they do this?

I have also asked if opt-outs are available for non-Premium subscribers. And if it is possible to stop notifications in non-UK regions.

I have also re-stated that it was my belief that they were in breach of PECR.

[disc_count]

Thanks for all the detail here johnwastle. I'll be following to see what additional information you are able to obtain and whether it applies to those outside the UK as well (I'm in the US). So far no more of the ads I was getting but I am still skeptical that it was a permanent solution...

[disc_count]

rmb62470: I was confused by that wording and don't understand how that means what you're saying it means...although if that is in fact what it means I would not be surprised that they are being cryptic about it

[rmb62470]

Support said "I have an option on my end to turn off all ads that would appear based on your basic Spotfiy account information." So they're not promising to turn off all ads, just all ads that are based on your account info. So random ads are still a possibility.

[Smooch]

I also keep getting concert advertisements when I start Spotify. 
Very annoying considering I’m paying them to have no ads. 
In either case, for me it’s very simple, if Spotify doesn’t stop this in 30 days I’m cancelling. 
Been trying Qobuz anyway and it’s much better in every sense. Was going to keep Spotify just for my car and listen to Qobuz at home but I may as well quit if this doesn’t stop in the next 30 days. 
Today it’s February 15 2024. So March 15 I’m done if this doesn’t change. 

[Vasil]

Hey folks!

We've made some changes backstage so you shouldn't be experiencing this issue anymore.
For anyone who still is - try the following steps:

• Make sure that these recommendations are switched off from your account settings. Follow this link and look for 'In-person Concerts & Events'. 
  Note: In addition to that, you can also go to your Account Overview page -> Privacy Settings and see if disabling Tailored Ads would make a difference.

• In case the issue persists, open this link and follow the steps to remove your cached data.
  Restart the app afterwards.
  

Keep us posted on how things go! We'll be on the lookout 🙂

[Eddy_bola]

Hi, so I installed Spotify again. Checked & followed the steps you recommended.  Cleared my cache, everything. And within 2 minutes I got the **bleep**ing concert ad again.

See my screenshot below. Back to uninstalling again!

[Sjogr3n]

This is extremely annoying and can’t even be allowed, at least for those of us that are paying for Premium (considering new EU regulations).

I don’t care about concerts, especially the ones you keep nagging me about for some odd reason. I don’t want any artist or podcast recommendations. I don’t want you to have any say at all about what I should listen to unless I intentionally use an algorithmic feed such as the radio feature.

I’ve been using Spotify since it was brand new and I really don’t want to leave it. But it better stop annoying me with these constant pop-ups and messages or I’ll be switching over to a service that respects these wishes (likely Apple Music).

EDIT: I should also mention that I’ve tried all of the proposed solution and nothing has worked thus far. I’m on the latest version of Spotify and the latest version of iOS.

EDIT2: It now seems I'm not getting the alerts anymore – at least not for the past hours. Perhaps the problem got solved for me by disabling tailored marketing, although the change needed some time to ho through. In any case, I think it's crazy that the concert alert feature is on by default and that there isn't an obvious way to disable it.

EDIT3: No, they’re back again. I.e. impossible to turn off.

[rmb62470]

I'm in the USA, and I mentioned earlier in this thread that I am having this same issue. We don't have any laws or regulations against these types of adverts in the US, but a lot of you are saying the EU does. If that's true, then report this to whatever agency has oversight in that area.

It's good to complain here, as it lets other users know that they are not alone. But it's obvious that Spotify isn't doing anything to truly address this issue. So you can complain here and let it all out, but nothing is going to change until as many of you as possible actually report this to the authorities.

Also, you might want to consult with attorneys. Again, I'm not from the EU, but in the US you can consult class action attorneys for free, and if they think you have a case, they will represent you for free. It doesn't matter that you are just one person. If they think there's a case to be pursued, they will cast a wide net to find as many aggrieved users as possible and file suit.

So, in summary, complaining here is good, but if you really want to take action, you need to do more.

[charlieischarlie]

Spotify's failure to fix this unbelievably irritating and intrusive feature has driven me to Apple Music. F*** this.

[C1L0]

Hello Vasil, 

After the logging out solution and performing a clean install, i am still getting recommendations. 

Device: iphone 11 pro

ios: 17.3.1

spotify version: 8.9.14.562