Spotify is set to raise subscription prices again, aiming to fuel its quest for 1 billion users, according to the Financial Times. Co-President Alex Norström revealed that price adjustments are now a key strategy, paired with new features like AI DJ and customizable track transitions.

Following its first annual profit in 2024, Spotify’s recent price hikes in select markets boosted shares nearly 10%. With 276 million subscribers and 696 million monthly users, the platform’s growth remains strong. New offerings, including a potential “superfan” tier, aim to keep users hooked despite rising costs.

The iconic Burning Man festival turned perilous this week as relentless rains battered the Black Rock Desert. On Tuesday evening, a male attendee suffered a reported electrocution incident after 6 PM, prompting an urgent airlift to a trauma center.

Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen confirmed the emergency transport, though details remain scarce due to festival officials’ reticence, citing privacy concerns. The downpours rendered roads impassable, forcing gate closures and stranding thousands.

Gates reopened Wednesday morning, but soggy conditions lingered. Organizers emphasized participant safety, lauding their emergency team’s swift response. With clearer skies ahead, the event pushes on, but this stormy start raises questions about weather preparedness in the remote playa.

Spotify is revolutionizing playlists with its beta “Mix” feature for Premium users, enabling custom track transitions that mimic professional DJ sets. Accessible via a “Mix” button, it offers presets like “Fade” and “Rise,” plus controls for volume, EQ, and effects. Users can sort tracks by tempo and key, using beat grids and waveforms for seamless blends, especially in dance genres like house and techno. Save, share, and collaborate on mixed playlists with exclusive cover art tools. Update your Spotify app to check availability and start crafting your own DJ-style mixes

During DJ Gryffin’s set at XS Nightclub in Las Vegas, a Justin Bieber impersonator, Dylan Desclos, tricked everyone, including Gryffin, into believing he was the real pop star. With a fake entourage, Desclos performed “Sorry” on stage, sparking #biebergate2025.

Fans were thrilled, thinking Bieber had crashed the show, only to learn the truth later. Gryffin took it in stride, joking on Instagram about being duped. The crowd enjoyed the stunt, but the Wynn banned Desclos for life. Social media buzzed, with some calling it a hilarious marketing ploy.