New York, Jan 22, 2026, 14:21 ET — Regular session
- Spotify shares dipped roughly 1.5%, despite unveiling an AI-powered playlist feature for Premium users in the U.S. and Canada.
- Investors are debating if the new product features and a planned U.S. price hike in February will boost revenue without triggering higher churn.
- Analysts are scaling back their targets as traders turn their gaze toward Spotify’s upcoming quarterly report.
Shares of Spotify Technology S.A. slipped roughly 1.5% to $494.71 in Thursday afternoon trading, lagging behind the broader market’s gains.
Spotify’s shares fell amid efforts to steer free users into paid subscriptions, ahead of a February price hike in the U.S. The key issue remains balancing pricing power against subscriber losses, shaping the stock’s current trajectory. 1
Traders have swiftly punished any hint of increased spending. Spotify’s AI rollout fits right into that discussion—new tools might boost engagement but could also drive up product and computing costs.
Spotify has launched “prompted playlist,” an AI-driven feature now available to Premium users in the U.S. and Canada. It customizes playlists based on listening habits and text commands. 1
“Listeners aren’t just looking for Spotify to get them—they want to take control and shape their own experience,” said Molly Holder, Vice President of Product Personalization, during a media briefing. 1
The company announced that users can create “rules” for generated content and schedule refreshes either daily or weekly, turning recommendations from a passive receipt into an active choice. 1
Spotify confirmed it will hike the monthly cost of its Premium plan by $1 to $12.99 in the U.S., Estonia, and Latvia beginning in February. 1
The stock closed Wednesday down 1.8%, slipping to $502.19. 2
This week, Barclays lowered its price target for Spotify to $625 from $700 but maintained an “Overweight” rating, TheFly reported. The bank noted that while there are some short-term concerns, it still views Spotify as a long-term winner amid changes in the media landscape. 3
There’s a clear risk here. Another price hike might prompt some users to downgrade or pause their subscriptions. And if churn spikes, investors—already wary after several target cuts—won’t take it well.
Traders are now focusing on Spotify’s quarterly report, set for Feb. 10 before the U.S. market opens. They’ll be watching closely for subscriber numbers, advertising growth, and any forward-looking comments related to the billing changes rolling out in February. 4
