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New Spotify and UMG deal could create pricier ‘superfan’ subscription

It’s Spotify’s first direct deal with a publisher in years.

Spotify and Universal Music Group have signed a new multi-year agreement that could result in a tiered subscription approach aimed at providing extra perks for “superfans.” The two didn’t announce any specifics, including the number of years the deal lasts, but UMG says it’s consistent with a “Streaming 2.0” vision it presented to investors last year. UMG chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge called the agreement “precisely the kind of partnership development” the company hoped for when describing Streaming 2.0. That presentation envisioned a “Super-Premium” subscription for superfans that could mean things like early access to music, exclusive deluxe editions, hi-res audio, and artist Q&As.

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