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Spotify outage leaves thousands unable to log in, search or stream

Thousands of Spotify users in the US and UK reported login, search and streaming failures on 29 September. Spotify said it was aware and checking, with no cause or fix time given.

3 outlets · 2L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from IJR. Previously: “Spotify outage leaves thousands of users unable to stream or search”.

Image: Daily Mirror
Image: IJR
Image: Metro

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The story, neutrally told

Thousands of Spotify users reported problems with the streaming service on 29 September. The Mirror said Downdetector received 4,039 reports by 3.20pm, with the first around 2.30pm and a sharp rise just before 3pm; Metro cited 4,060 users at around 3pm. IJR, using US figures, said Downdetector reports topped 15,000 by about 10:06am ET and reached 18,443 by 10:24am ET, and that UK reports passed 3,600 at one point.

Affected features included the app, audio streaming, server connection, search, non-downloaded playlists, login and Spotify Connect. Users saw messages such as "Something went wrong. Please try again." and, when searching, "Couldn't load the page, try again". Several users said deleting and reinstalling the app left them unable to log in; the Mirror said some had been told to do so by customer service.

Accounts differ on downloaded music: the Mirror said it appeared to work as usual, while a user quoted by Metro could not play it. Some users regained access through the desktop version. Spotify said it was aware of the issues and checking them; no cause or restoration time was reported.

Some users asked for compensation, and Metro noted Spotify's 761 million monthly active users and 293 million paying subscribers in the first quarter despite UK price rises.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left2 outlets

Framing
UK-focused live-style and consumer reports built around user complaints and afternoon Downdetector counts, with Metro adding subscriber and price-rise context.
Emphasis
User frustration, quotes, compensation demands and UK timings.
Leaves out or plays down
The much larger US Downdetector figures and the Spotify Connect and non-downloaded playlist details reported by IJR.
Charged language
“major outage”“Users were quick to rage”“One miffed user”
For example
“Many Spotify customers have expressed their frustration about this afternoon's issues” — Daily Mirror
“Users were quick to rage that they had tried to log out and then back in to no avail.” — Metro

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
A brief, data-led report led by US Downdetector peaks, noting the UK impact and Spotify's limited response.
Emphasis
Report counts with ET timestamps, affected features, and the absence of a cause or timeline.
Leaves out or plays down
User quotes on compensation and the subscriber and price context that Metro gives.
For example
“DownDetector hit 18,443 U.S. Spotify reports by 10:24am ET on Sept. 29 as login, search, and playlists failed; Spotify said only that it was aware and checking.” — IJR