The code found in version 9.1.82.19 of Spotify’s Android app indicates that free users may soon be able to start Jam sessions. In the feature, launched in September 2023 and allowing up to 32 people to listen together, free users can currently only join sessions.
Songs will play in shuffle mode in Jam sessions started by free accounts; their ability to skip songs and add tracks to the queue will be limited. Premium subscribers who join the session will also be subject to the host’s restrictions. Spotify will also display prompts to upgrade to a Premium subscription in these sessions.
Why it matters
While expanding the scope of the Jam feature, this change could redefine the difference between free and Premium accounts through session controls and playback options. In particular, it raises the prospect of removing the current distinction between joining a session and managing one for users who want to listen to music together but do not have a paid subscription. At the same time, the fact that Premium users would also be subject to the same restrictions in a session started by a free account raises questions about the extent to which participants can benefit from the subscription they have. The subscription prompts found in the code indicate that the feature could be designed not only as a shared listening function but also as an access model directing free users toward Premium; however, it remains unclear when and to what extent this arrangement will be made available.