Spotify reverses redesign, restores classic 2D green logo next week

Spotify said the classic green version of its mobile app icon will return this week after a temporary disco-ball redesign drew complaints from users. The company had swapped the icon on May 14 as part of its 20th-anniversary campaign, tying the change to a mobile-only in-app feature called “Spotify 20: Your Party of the Year(s).” Variety reported on May 18 that Spotify said the old 2D logo would come back next week as previously planned, while MacObserver reported on May 19 that the company described the return as coming “later this week.” The reversal turned a small branding experiment into a broader reminder of how sensitive users can be to changes in a familiar app icon. ### When did Spotify change the icon, and what was it for? May 14 was the date the disco-ball icon began appearing in Spotify’s mobile app, according to coverage from USA Today and Kompas. The redesign kept Spotify’s three curved lines in the center but replaced the flat green circle with a glittering mirror-ball look tied to the company’s 20th anniversary. (variety.com) Variety reported that Spotify linked the icon to “Spotify 20: Your Party of the Year(s),” a mobile-only in-app experience that looks back at listeners’ music history. Kompas also said the anniversary push included the “Your Party of the Year(s)” feature, giving the icon change a product tie-in rather than presenting it as a standalone rebrand. (usatoday.com) ### What exactly did Spotify say about bringing the old logo back? Variety reported on May 18 that Spotify said the old 2D logo would return “next week” and that the disco-ball icon had always been temporary. MacObserver reported a day later that Spotify confirmed the regular green logo would be restored “later this week,” a phrasing that points to a near-term rollback on mobile devices. (variety.com) The Tennessean, citing Spotify’s response to complaints, reported the company said, “We know glitter is not for everyone,” and said the classic logo would be back soon. That line became the clearest public acknowledgment that the company had heard the criticism. ### How strong was the backlash? (variety.com) Variety described the reaction as a “massive” backlash, and multiple outlets reported user complaints after the icon appeared without warning on phones. MacObserver said the company’s confirmation came after users objected to the temporary switch, while Tennessean coverage said Spotify addressed complaints directly. (tennessean.com) The complaints centered less on a change to Spotify’s core branding than on the app icon people use every day. Kompas reported that the redesign quickly became a topic on social media after it appeared in the mobile app, and USA Today said the disco-ball version marked the company’s 20th birthday. (variety.com) ### Was this a permanent rebrand? Spotify did not describe the disco-ball icon as a permanent redesign. Variety reported the company said the return of the classic icon had been planned, and 9to5Mac separately reported on May 18 that Spotify had confirmed the disco-ball version was temporary and that the regular logo would return. (entertainment.kompas.com) That distinction matters because the company appears to have treated the icon as anniversary packaging around a specific campaign rather than as a full brand reset. The underlying Spotify identity — including the green color and curved line motif — remained visible even in the disco-ball version, according to Kompas. (variety.com) ### What happens next inside the app? This week is the next concrete milestone Spotify has given. MacObserver reported the classic green icon will return “later this week,” while Variety said the old 2D logo would be back as planned after the anniversary promotion. The “Spotify 20: Your Party of the Year(s)” feature remains the named in-app element tied to the campaign as users wait for the icon change to roll back on mobile. (entertainment.kompas.com) (macobserver.com)