New users to Spotify now must join Facebook first, a move drawing an angry response from music lovers worldwide.

On the Get Satisfaction website,

Spotify employee ‘Darran’ confirmed this to be the case.

“Unfortunately

you will need a Facebook account to access Spotify from now on, unless

you already have an account set up,” he said.

“This does not stop you

creating the Facebook account adding nothing to it and making it

totally private as the Facebook account does not have to be actively

used. [sic]”

 

Spotify UK PR manager Sally Whatley said as most of the platform's users were already connected to

Facebook, it seemed logical to integrate Spotify and Facebook logins.

"We've created a simple and

seamless social experience," she told netmagazine.com. "From today, all new Spotify users will need

to have a Facebook account to join Spotify. Think of it as like a

virtual 'passport', designed to make the experience smoother and

easier, with one less username and password to remember. You don't need

to connect to Facebook and if you do decide to, you can always control

what you share and don't share by changing your Spotify settings at any

time."

Whatley's sunny approach to the move was not echoed by the Twitterati who were vocal in their condemnation of the move.

Leading the charge was influential tweeter Stephen Fry – @StephenFry – who sent this post out: "Gosh I hope Spotify doesn't align itself to that vile, useless childish bully FaceBook.'

: "Spotify really needs to stop sticking it's snout in Facebook's crotch, it's getting a bit overbearing," they tweeted

And @BradMcCarty wrote that he was now through with Spotify and would be reverting to more old-school ways of receiving his music: "Canceling my Spotify. Pretty bummed about that, but I can't support companies that make choices like the ones made today. Rdio, here I come," he tweeted.

Existing Spotify users, for the moment at least,

can continue to avoid Facebook, although it remains to be seen if

that’s permanent.

Whatley hinted this wasn't the last change Spotify users would have to endure: "We're constantly trying new

things, always looking for feedback and we're always going to listen to

our users, making changes based on this feedback wherever we can."