Upset

[no-name]

I'm very upset with the new condom adds I'm getting on spotify... I hated the adds in the first place but this and the non stop glitches are the final straw... there are kids on this program... I will be uninstalling spotify as well as telling all my friends about this... don't come back with: " well if you would buy spotify premium you won't have to listen to the adds" because I'm not waisting a single dime on this program.... I'd rather spend a dollar per song on itunes

[user-removed]

There is no need to be quiet. Spotify is trying to stop us from complaining so after time they can say no one complained about these ads in past time... so no need to remove those.

Just keep adding words, sentences, books, links, jokes or even public feedbacks to Spotify. I write book in my mind about those dirty ads in Spotify!

[Dranu]

So accordign to David, Spotify intends to censor this thread by calling it off-topic rather than censoring sexualy explicit ads? 

Surely there is a way to block these ads David?  I would love to use Spotify, but I can't endure ads like that and I am not interested in buying premium with support of such ads for minors.

[Rubay]

I am one of the people reporting "abuse" --inappropriate content because I don't think being mocked, telling people to "grow a pair", grow up, to stop bitching, buy premium, and having our parenting or integrity called into question, etc. is helpful, respectful, or on topic. Giving us solutions we have already said do not work or are unsatisfactory based on counter value judgements does not contribute usefully to this topic. And if a moderator isn't going to delete those posts, then what? We have to just not report them and take that abuse or else risk having the topic closed? Threatening to silence those with a legitimate complaint because of those who want to harrass us amounts to taking sides with those mocking us.

[mtnboyjp]

I agree with the other people that the ads in spotify are disgusting. There are plenty of decent companies that yall can advertise without having sexually explicit content all over the place. I would like to see the innapropriae ads disappear totaly. This is a music program not a sex store!! You spotify people shuod have more pride in your product than to allow sexually explicit and vulgar ads on you product. Profanity included!!

[JoelMay]

David, please tell us how this thread is off topic at all (with the exception that you added in that is making everyone discuss if this thread is on topic instead of the original topic of being upset at the inappropriate ads).  Almost all the posts before yours were very pertinent in my opiniton.  (This thread is even in the Off Topic section of the forum...)

What type of abuse reports?  Are they reports of posts in this thread being abuse or the ads getting reported as abuse through the "contact us" page (that no one ever replies to)?

Censoring the users' thread by locking it is not a civil way to deal with upset users.  At least give us an official response from Spotify.  I don't care if that response is "We (Spotify) do not care and we will do nothing about these ads."  Maybe just offer to leave a response on this thread when the Durex advertising term is ended.

[Drhead]

I've been getting these ads as well as ads for alcoholic beverages.  While the condom ads might be 'okay' for my age group (16) and both ads are (sadly) very well targeted to the interests of people my age, I'm nowhere near 21.  I shouldn't be getting these ads, and there is not really an excuse for giving me these ads.

[ezearis93]

I can't believe this. I'm 18 and I'm not upset by the alcohol or condom ads, as the word says, it's just an ad! It's not like Spotify is making you to watch pornography or drink beer to listen to music.

Also, it's not like all the ads on Spotify are of condoms and alcohol! Grow up a little, and if you are so upset that you can't keep on using the service, pay 5 bucks and get rid of the ads.

Really, I can't believe that people can get upset for listening to a beer ad. Year 2012, guys.

[Rubay]

exearis93, go post a new thread about how you like condom ads. This is neither helpful nor respectful, telling us to grow up and do exactly what we are here to say we will NOT do. 

[Makhaon]

Seems that someone is upset at all the attention this topic is getting.

Make sure you kudo all the replies that you agree with and kudo the ideas that also pertain to the topic of inappropriate ads. The higher in rankings these posts are, the more people will see this problem and be able to join the discussion. Also, remember to tag your posts. There's quite a few tags on other posts in this topic already. Pick the ones you like and add them to your post.

[JoelMay]

ezearis93, Spotify may not be forcing me to have sex, but it seems that you do not have a job at a workplace that discourages out-of-place sexual content.  Even around my family it's completely unacceptable to let everyone know that she likes it slow and whatever else.

I'm looking for a free service with ads (because that is how they get paid) that is appropriate to listen to at work, home, and church.  Spotify was acceptable until the Durex ads started.  I have never seen an advertising network put sex ads along with Christian content (when I'm listening to Christian music as other users have reported).  If Spotify isn't going to listen to the users of the free service and provide a fix then I will not give them any money because if I give them feedback as a paid member I know they will ignore it.

There are people under the age of 18 reporting that they are getting the Durex ads.  I do not believe that it can be legal to promote sex to people under the age of 18, but I do not have any references or proof that the ads are showing.  Maybe a complaint should be filed to the FCC or Better Business Bureau to report advertising illegally.

I agree that the alcohol ads are annoying, but I have never heard any of them encouraging drunkenness outright and I think they are legally required to include "please drink responsibly" at least on TV.  I don't know if it's legal to play alcohol ads to minors when Spotify does know the user's age.

BTW the Durex ads occur so often for me that they do seem like almost the only ad I get.  I may get a few "in-house" ads, but I can't even listen to a single album before hearing a condom one.

[no-name]

Spotify in your unwillingness to remove these ads I am officially leaving spotify. I thank you all for supporting the cause to remove this. Spotify has shown that they care only for the profit they make and nothing about their community/users. The fact that the condom ad AND an Alcohol beverage is targeting users who are around 15-16 is disgusting to me. These ads have shown the type of people that run this program and I refuse to support these selfish alcoholic pervs who are allowing this to go out to young teens. I am the one who started this thread and thank all who supported me in this. But they refuse to remove these ads and if all you (who have shown me what great people you are by supporting this cause) truly wish to show that you won't stand for this then I ask you all now to join me and leave this program. There are better things out there. I would rather spend a dollar per song on itunes than spend another moment on this program. Kids should not be subjected to this type of stuff. Better things await those who are against this and we are better people. When I saw that this thread had gained so many views I was extremely proud of all those supporting this. Thank you all, and goodbye spotify

[EdwinRohweller]

Yes, you may quote me.

Now, To the haters (and of course I'm talking to you premium members who can blow  5-10 bucks a month on radio and consider not having to listen to adds a satisfactory settlement), I have this to say:

It is no longer a matter of not hearing the ads that has consumed us with such rage to continue posting in this forum. It is neither a desire that we should continue to post in great length over something that is seemingly trivial. Spotify should fix this by removing this ad entirely. Not because they have to, but because they value their customers more than their pockets. And for those foolish enough to say: "Well just pay for the service and you won't have to deal with it." But why would anyone purchase insurance for a car that is a lemon? They are clearly ignoring our concerns with pithy answers about their contracts with the company providing the ad and choosing to defer us to paying money in order to reap a profit off of our inability to cope. Well, I have news. I'm enjoying Pandora again. YAAYYYY!!! Wanna know why? They don't have condom ads. And if they started having them, I'd stop listening. The real answer to your good friends at Spotify who seem to have mastered the art of swindling people out of their hard earned money is that they are getting paid either way. Because if you aren't paying them, the ad company is paying them. So what do they care, as long as you listen. You make a mockery of a free market when you say to stop complaining and just give in. Spotify makes a mockery of its customers. Oh and ad company who thinks I'm suddenly gonna start buying condoms, if I ever do buy them, I specifically intend to never buy Durex condoms. YAAYYY!!!! They are party in this as much as Spotify is, as much as you are. So go ahead, feed them your bank account. It's in your best interest to feed the hand that bites you.

[writergeek313]

I use Spotify mostly at work, and like others have said, the Durex ads are completely inappropriate for a professional environment. The visual ones aren't an issue, since I keep Spotify minimized unless I'm choosing a new album or playlist, but the audio ones are a problem. I have to stop what I'm doing and mute the audio. I don't always pause Spotify before I leave my office, and it could be awkward if someone in another office overheard one of those ads.

Personally, I don't have a problem with Spotify being sponsored by a condom company. I just wish they'd think a little more about the situations in which listeners use their program when it comes to creating audio ads. If it's not appropriate for an office environment, it shouldn't be aired during business hours.

[MisterAlex]

Well, I have plent of Spotify playlist tracks to seed Pandora stations, and I can just grab the specific ones I want from the Magical Interwebs to throw on my MP3 player.

Seriously, though. I don't mind ads. It's just a handful of them that piss me off every time I hear them.

I didn't care for the one a couple weeks ago that was for some TV show I'll avoid like the plague (had women talking about inappropriate stuff).

And I definitely don't appreciate the condom ads, either.

I'm 28, and I really don't think it's a matter of age. It's a matter of personal values and preferences. I also don't drink at all, but I honestly don't mind the whiskey ads so much; they're easier to avoid, though truth be told I'd prefer some humorous beer ads.  =P

Please get rid of the sex advertisements.

Really, the only thing Spotify has over Pandora (for me) is the social pane--it's just kind of fun to see what my friends are listening to. I can live without the "play any song you want whenver you want" aspect of it, since there exists YouTube to fill that role if I just really have an itch that only a certain song can scratch. And there's a bigger selection there, too.  :v

tl;dr: Ditch the smut messages, you guys.

[cabbages]

I've been advertising Spotify to my friends, family, and collegues for ages now and I can no longer do that in good faith. Frankly, I just dont use Spotify like I used to because I'm sick of these ads. I have even begun actively telling people to find a different service besides Spotify due to these offensive advertisments.

I only post this here so Spotify will hopefully see this thread get longer and longer and be pushed to make a change.

[9Life42]

I'm getting a Redbull add that is clearly selling itself to colllage age guys who want to stay up all night having sex with as many women as possible. As a guy in college I guess they found their target audiance in me, but I couldn't be more turned off.  I'm flabergasted at how inapropriate this is. It is extremely disrespectful of women by painting them as play things for guys. I cant believe Spotify is allowing such crass ads to play to their listeners. Are inequality and disrespect qualities that Spotify is trying to promote?

[midwisdom]

There, I've done it. After posting for over 5 times about this annoying ad, I've officially boycotted Spotify. No longer a user, and wanted to let it be known that Spotify just drove away its own user. You won't see me wasting any more time on this forum in the future. 

[David · Accepted solution]

Hello.

The Durex campaign has now been removed from Spotify.

[user-removed]

THANK YOU! 

[newton21989]

Thank you. I am now listening to Spotify again.