Spotify rolls out Premium Platinum in markets including Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Spotify has begun piloting a restructured subscription model across five emerging markets as it tests a revised Premium structure. New users in India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates can now choose from an updated range of plans, with Premium Platinum introduced as a new tier alongside existing subscription options.

Premium Platinum introduces features that are not available on Spotify’s Standard tier within these markets, including access to lossless audio quality and a selection of AI-driven tools such as AI DJ and AI Playlist, alongside third-party DJ integration and expanded mixing functions. Existing features like Jam and daylist remain part of the broader Premium experience, but the new tier groups these higher-end capabilities under a separate subscription level.

For now, the refreshed subscription structure is limited to new users only, signalling what appears to be a controlled test phase within regions Spotify identifies as high-growth streaming economies. While the company declined to confirm whether the model will roll out beyond these five territories, the move marks a notable shift in its strategy, particularly as lossless audio is now being placed behind a premium price barrier in markets where Standard subscribers had previously anticipated wider access.

Notably, some of the features now exclusive to Premium Platinum were already available in these regions. South Africa had access to AI DJ and AI Playlist in beta form, while the UAE previously included mixing tools within its existing Premium plans. In South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Platinum users will also gain audiobook access, marking the first time audiobooks have officially entered these markets through Spotify’s ecosystem.

While this new tier structure underscores Spotify’s evolving monetisation approach, the company has simultaneously drawn attention for a separate strategic move in the music data space. The streaming platform recently acquired WhoSampled for an undisclosed sum, integrating the community-driven database into its upcoming SongDNA feature. According to Spotify, the partnership will allow for expanded song credits and deeper contextual information based on WhoSampled’s user-built archive.

However, the acquisition has also sparked concern among some users and industry observers, who fear that increased oversight of WhoSampled’s catalogue could lead to heightened scrutiny of uncleared samples by major labels. Responding to these concerns, WhoSampled stated it will continue operating as a standalone platform, supported by Spotify funding to improve moderation speed, launch free apps and remove display advertising, reinforcing what it described as a shared goal to help listeners better understand the music they engage with.