New indications suggest that Spotify may extend the ‘Jam’ feature to free plan users, albeit with certain restrictions. Currently, this function is exclusive to Premium subscribers of the platform, which has more than 50 million users in Brazil. The clues were found by the Android Authority website, which analyzed code modifications in version 9.1.82.19 of the Android application.

Previously, Spotify’s source code clearly stated that starting a Jam session required a Premium subscription. Specific texts indicated the need to “subscribe to Premium to start your own Jam and play any song, anytime”.

However, in the latest software update, the mention of creating a Jam as an exclusive feature for paying subscribers has been removed. The revised text now only states that the Premium version offers “full control over what plays next”, without linking the creation of the session to paid exclusivity.

Furthermore, Android Authority discovered other lines of code that detail possible limitations for participants in Jams organized by free accounts. Among the restrictions would be the impossibility of skipping songs, adding tracks to the playlist or modifying the sequence of songs while the host is a user without a paid plan.

How the Free Jam feature may operate

According to the code snippets, the limitations would apply to everyone involved in a Jam hosted by a free account, even if some are Premium subscribers. This would involve playing songs in random order and a restricted number of skips per session.

Free plan users who choose to start a Jam should also receive invitations to subscribe to Premium, which aligns with Spotify’s strategy to convert more listeners into paying users.

The music streaming company has not officially confirmed these changes. Android Authority warns that code changes, such as those identified in this latest update, do not always result in a public release of the functionality, as they may be part of internal tests that can be canceled.

Details about Spotify’s Jam tool

The Jam feature was launched in September 2023, allowing up to 32 people to join together in a collaborative, synchronized playlist, with the music playing simultaneously on all participants’ devices. Currently, anyone can participate in a Jam that has already started, but the creation of new sessions is exclusive to Premium subscribers.