Spotify offers new monetization options for third-party app developers

Spotify is opening up an option for third-party app developers to sell their creations on mobile app stores. The streaming platform announced that it has removed the distribution restrictions for programs made in the Spotify iOS SDK (software development kit) and Spotify Android SDK. As long as an app meets the Developer Terms of Use, the creators can pursue any avenues they choose for monetizing their Spotify-related programs. The only remaining limitation on generating profit from these third-party programs is that apps that stream full-length tracks cannot be sold or monetized in other ways.

Last month, Spotify removed the App Finder tab from its desktop client. “With the growing importance of mobile and many of you asking for the tools to build apps outside of our desktop platform, we recognized the need to make a new set of APIs and SDKs available,” Spotify said in shuttering the desktop feature.

The change in its permissions for outside developers confirms a new emphasis on mobile listening and mobile activity. And for Spotify’s listeners, this could mean that the third-party apps that used to show up in their desktop experience might be migrating to Apple and Android app stores.