Spotify Inc. is laying the groundwork to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI) remixing tool that would allow subscribers to generate custom covers and genre-bending versions of licensed tracks at the touch of a button.

The proposed service, which could debut as early as the first quarter of 2027, is expected to carry a monthly surcharge of $4 to $5 on top of existing Premium subscriptions, according to a report from the Financial Times.

Sources familiar with the discussions indicate Spotify is weighing an announcement timed around the Grammy Awards in February, though final pricing, launch schedules, and feature sets remain subject to change. If instituted, the add-on would lift the total monthly cost for an individual U.S. subscriber from $12.99 to roughly $17 or $18.

The tool promises to simplify processes that previously demanded specialized audio workstations and seasoned production skills.

Using generative models, listeners could transform a dance anthem into a country ballad, convert acoustic folk into electronic club tracks, or synthesize vocal models to make an artist appear to cover another performer’s catalog.

Crucial to the rollout is the music industry’s buy-in. Spotify has already secured partnerships with Universal Music Group (UMG), independent rights agency Merlin, and French distributor Believe, while talks continue with Sony Music and Warner Music Group.

Under the proposed framework, participating artists would earn royalties from user-generated remixes, and streams of these bespoke creations could count toward charting metrics on the platform. Crucially, musicians retain the right to veto their catalog’s inclusion, regardless of broad label agreements.

That opt-out clause presents Spotify’s most significant hurdle. The platform has reportedly found contemporary pop stars far more hesitant to participate than established heritage acts.

Industry sentiment around generative audio remains sharply divided: Older icons like Paul McCartney and David Byrne have expressed deep reservations regarding digital soundalikes, but younger hitmakers such as Olivia Rodrigo have voiced strong public opposition to synthetic music creation.

User sentiment may also prove frosty. Online consumer forums have met news of the surcharge with skepticism, criticizing the platform’s pivot toward synthetic media at a time when pure streaming alternatives remain widely available.

Still, Wall Street analysts calculate that converting even 7% to 8% of Spotify’s estimated 75 million U.S. Premium subscribers could generate substantial recurring revenue. The strategy echoes Spotify’s previous attempts to monetize power users, including an unreleased Music Pro tier that was once slated to bundle remix utilities with high-fidelity streaming.

As standalone AI audio platforms face mounting copyright lawsuits, Spotify aims to carve out a legally compliant path for fan-made manipulation.

Whether the venture thrives, however, will hinge entirely on whether the industry’s most bankable artists agree to let their master recordings enter the digital blender.