Spotify has introduced a new 'Basic' music-only subscription tier in the United States, priced at $10.99 per month, following the company's recent move to switch 97% of its Premium subscribers to a bundled offering that includes audiobooks.

The Basic plan excludes audiobook access, offering a $1 discount compared to the Premium tier which includes 15 hours of audiobook listening. However, this new option is currently limited to individual subscribers only, with no equivalent offerings for couples or family plans.

This subscription change comes amid legal challenges, as Spotify faces a lawsuit from the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) over alleged underpayment of royalties to publishers and songwriters due to its bundling strategy.

Key points about the new Basic tier:

• Available only to "eligible" U.S. users
• Not prominently displayed on subscription pages
• Follows a similar rollout in the United Kingdom
• No clear path for new subscribers to access this tier
• Not mentioned in Spotify's FAQ section

The timing of this launch is notable, as Spotify recently reported $100 million in royalty savings since implementing bundled offerings in March. This new Basic tier appears to serve as a technical alternative for customers who prefer a music-only subscription, though access and visibility remain limited.

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