Spotify’s free music and podcast option is now available in South Korea, the audio streaming platform said on Thursday, as it looks to expand its audience base.

The streaming giant’s freemium business model offers both a free, limited ad-supported service and an unlimited premium subscription service.

Spotify said the move will allow them to better connect global audiences with Korean music, which includes K-pop.

Users in South Korea can now sign up for a free account to access Spotify’s playlists, podcasts and daily mix, among others, and can further choose to upgrade to ad-free premium music on demand.

“Brands that advertise on Spotify’s free tier can get their message across effectively as Spotify ads get twice as much attention as social media platforms globally,” the company said.

Since Spotify launched in South Korea in 2021, average monthly streams by artists from the country on the platform now exceed 5.8 billion streams, Spotify said.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

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