Spotify Exec Jabs YouTube Amid Launch Of Redesigned App With More Free Features

A top Spotify executive took a decisive swipe at YouTube’s still-in-the-works music service today — specifically at global music head Lyor Cohen’s comments last month that the company will attempt to “frustrate and seduce” certain viewers into paying for the subscription service by showing them more ads.

The critique of YouTube’s strategy was leveled by Spotify’s head of research and development, Gustav Soderstrom (pictured above), at a launch event for a revamped version of Spotify’s ad-supported mobile app, which will give users free access to features that they previously had to pay for. “Others in the industry may not be as familiar with freemium,” Soderstrom said, per Bloomberg, noting that Spotify was aiming to be more user-friendly. “[They] may think it involves creating pain for users.”

Spotify’s redesigned app will roll out globally on iOS and Android in coming weeks — arriving ahead of YouTube’s delayed subscription service

. The app will give users access to 15 playlists — including brand new tracks — and enable them to skip tracks within these playlists indefinitely. (Previously, free users were limited to a shuffle mode with limited skips, Billboard notes). The redesigned app will also feature improved recommendation accuracy and offer a toggle switch enabling users to listen to music while consuming less mobile data.

Spotify, which went public roughly three weeks ago, currently has 157 million global users — 71 million of whom are paying subscribers. The updated app, as well as Soderstrom’s jab at Cohen, are illustrative of the company’s stated goal of reaching 1 billion users, notes Bloomberg — many of whom currently turn to YouTube for music streaming.