Spotify struck a blow to developers! It restricted their access to valuable data

• Spotify offers developers access to various features and data through an API
• In the last change to the conditions, it limited the availability of some data, such as information about the songs listened to
• Spotify flaunts security, but it seems it’s actually a battle with artificial intelligence

Spotify, like other major apps and services, provides an API for third-party app developers. It is used, for example, by navigation, which allows you to control the music being played directly from the map environment, without the user having to switch to Spotify. In an update to the terms, Spotify has restricted access to some information, specifically to its recommendation functions.

Spotify on Wednesday developer blog post she announced that imposes limits on third-party developers who want to build AI applications using data from its listeners. Company will cut off access to information about what Spotify users are listening toincluding artists and songs popular among different groups of listeners. Developers will also lose access to Spotify’s Audio Analysis, which breaks down a song’s structure and rhythm, and Audio Features, which cover things like a song’s energy and whether it’s acoustic. Also Spotify restricted access to its algorithmically generated playlists.

Spotify justifies the changes by trying to increase platform security. But the changes will also prevent developers from building AI music recommendation models that rival those Spotify has been working on in recent years. Spotify appears to be joining the ranks of other big companies that feel threatened by artificial intelligence and don’t want to give away valuable data just like that.

Developers building apps with features that Spotify just cut off aren’t happy about it. One developer on Spotify’s community forum mentioned that they were working on an app that relied on the exact features and data that Spotify had revoked access to, and now they’re stuck. “There is nowhere else to get data like this, so you basically ruined the last few months of work for me,” he added. Many others on the forum have also asked the company to reconsider these changes and possibly restore access to these features once the security issues are resolved.

Do you use third-party apps for Spotify?

Source: Spotify, Android Police