Spotify suddenly cut off app developers from a bunch of its data

Spotify's sudden API changes disrupt app developers relying on its data.

: Spotify announced sudden API changes on November 27, affecting new apps and those in development by cutting off access to certain music data. Developers like Faisal Alquaddoomi and Douglas Adams express frustration, particularly as these changes were introduced during a major holiday. The adjustments were vaguely attributed by Spotify to security improvements, leaving developers concerned about app reliability.

On November 27, Spotify made a surprise announcement regarding changes to its API, which affected new apps and those in development by restricting access to specific music data, including catalog information and playlists. The news came just before Thanksgiving, catching many developers off guard and sparking dismay due to the timing and lack of prior notice.

Faisal Alquaddoomi, who was developing an app for visualizing music, and Douglas Adams, working on a project with UCLA to assess music's impact on patients, are among those impacted. Adams had to work through the holiday weekend to reduce the effect on his study, while Broken Holiday, a lo-fi producer, lamented the loss of playlist visibility for their automation app.

Spotify justified the abrupt changes by pointing to the need for enhanced security, but the lack of clear reasoning left developers frustrated. Many developers engaged in a community forum discussion, expressing their concerns with Spotify's decision, comparing it to changes made by companies like Strava and Reddit that also disrupted third-party app development.

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