LG Uplus subscribers to get free Spotify premium access

LG Uplus mobile subscribers will be treated to free access to Spotify premium. The South Korean telecom company announced on Tuesday, Aug. 10, that it will start offering the use of the audio and media streaming service to its customers for up to six months.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the move of LG Uplus Corp. will also help expand the reach and presence of Spotify in South Korea. It was revealed that subscribers of the said mobile carrier who registered under the 4G LTE and 5G network plans will be given access to Spotify Premium at no extra cost.

Originally, this service cost around ₩10,900 or $9.5 per month in the country. Those who qualify will be able to enjoy Spotify for three to six months. The duration of the free access will vary depending on the price of the customers’ LG Uplus subscription plans.

The freebie will actually be enjoyed by all the users of LG Uplus since it only offers 4G LTE and 5G plans to all of its 15 million users in the country. This will give the Swedish streaming company a big boost to heighten its presence and widen its market share against the existing key players such as Melon and Genie Music.

It was revealed that while Spotify has 165 million paid users around the world as of the second quarter of this year, it is lagging behind in the Korean market. Thus, this partnership with LG Uplus is expected to help push it upwards in the ranking.

The Korea Times reported that starting on Aug. 10, LG Uplus subscribers who are enrolled under the ₩85,000 or $73.94 monthly plan will enjoy six months of free Spotify Premium service. For others who are paying less, they will be treated to 3-month free access to the music streaming platform.

In any case, this is also beneficial to LG Uplus as it may be able to attract new customers through the free Spotify. Many people listen to music these days so offering this service can be a big attraction.

"This strategic partnership with Spotify, the world's leading music streaming platform well-known and acknowledged for its advanced personalized service and music curation, will enhance our competitive edge," Choung Hye Youn, LG Uplus’ vice president, said in a statement. "We will continue to work to create differentiated benefits for our LG Uplus customers."