# How to Watch Paramount Plus Without Ads \(and Take Control of Spotify Recommendations\)

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/how-to-stop-spotify-from-adding-songs-to-your-playlist/
- Published: 2024-09-23
- Author: Kara Masterson
- Categories: [Technology](https://33rdsquare.com/category/tech/)

---

## Introduction

In the crowded landscape of streaming services, Paramount Plus has quickly established itself as a major player. Launched in March 2021 as a rebranded and expanded version of CBS All Access, Paramount Plus offers an impressive library of over 30,000 TV episodes and 2,500 movies from ViacomCBS‘s vast portfolio of content. This includes popular franchises like Star Trek, SpongeBob SquarePants, and the ever-expanding Yellowstone universe.

One of the key selling points of Paramount Plus is its competitive pricing. The base "Essential" plan starts at just $4.99 per month, undercutting rivals like Netflix and HBO Max. However, that low price comes with a significant trade-off: unskippable ads, just like traditional TV. In fact, users on the Paramount Plus subreddit frequently complain about the high frequency of commercial breaks, with some shows featuring up to 4 minutes of ads per hour.

Fortunately, Paramount Plus also offers a "Premium" tier for $9.99 per month that removes all ads across the entire platform. It‘s a significant upgrade for a few dollars more, especially for binge-watchers and those used to ad-free streaming. The Premium plan also offers additional perks like 4K HDR streaming on select content, offline downloads on mobile devices, and live streaming of local CBS stations.

As of Q1 2023, Paramount Plus boasts an impressive 60 million subscribers globally, according to ViacomCBS‘s earnings report. However, the company doesn‘t disclose what percentage of users are on the ad-free Premium tier compared to the ad-supported Essential tier. With the service‘s rapid growth and expanding content lineup, it‘s likely that more users will opt for the ad-free experience over time.

## Upgrading to Paramount Plus Premium

If you‘re a new Paramount Plus subscriber, choosing the ad-free Premium plan is simple. During the signup process, just select the $9.99/month Premium option instead of the $4.99/month Essential plan. Both tiers come with a 7-day free trial.

| Paramount Plus Plan | Price | Ads | Video Quality | Downloads | Live TV |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Essential | $4.99/month or $49.99/year | Yes | 1080p HD | No | No |
| Premium | $9.99/month or $99.99/year | No | 4K HDR | Yes | Yes |

For existing Paramount Plus subscribers on the ad-supported plan, upgrading to Premium is also straightforward. Simply log into your account on the Paramount Plus website or mobile app, navigate to your account settings, and change your plan to the Premium tier. The ad-free experience and extra features will be activated immediately.

In addition to upgrading to Premium, there are a few other ways to potentially reduce ads while watching Paramount Plus:

1. Use an ad blocker browser extension: Tools like AdBlock or uBlock Origin can sometimes block video ads on streaming sites. However, many services have gotten better at detecting and circumventing these blockers, so your mileage may vary.
2. Try a VPN: If you connect to a VPN server in a country where Paramount Plus doesn‘t serve ads (like the UK), you might be able to avoid commercials. But this is not foolproof and could result in slower streaming speeds.
3. Download content for offline viewing: Paramount Plus allows Premium subscribers to download select shows and movies to watch offline without an internet connection. These downloaded videos don‘t contain any ads. But not all titles are eligible for offline viewing.

While these methods can help minimize ads to some extent, the most reliable way is simply to subscribe to the Premium plan. The extra $5 per month is a small price to pay for uninterrupted, buffer-free streaming in the highest quality available.

## Spotify‘s Recommendation Algorithms

Paramount Plus isn‘t the only streaming service where unwanted content can disrupt the user experience. On Spotify, the world‘s largest music streaming platform with 489 million monthly active users, algorithmically generated recommendations and autoplayed tracks have become a source of frustration for many listeners.

By default, Spotify will automatically queue up suggested songs after your chosen music ends, even on user-created playlists. These tracks are selected by Spotify‘s sophisticated recommendation algorithms, which analyze factors like your listening history, favorite genres and artists, and the habits of other users with similar tastes. While some listeners appreciate this feature for music discovery, others find it jarring to suddenly hear unfamiliar songs.

Additionally, Spotify frequently "enhances" user playlists by adding recommended tracks that it thinks fit the vibe. Again, this can be helpful for expanding your musical horizons, but it can also disrupt the flow and curation of a carefully crafted playlist.

Under the hood, Spotify‘s recommendation algorithms rely on a combination of collaborative filtering (comparing your tastes to other users), natural language processing (analyzing text data about songs), and audio analysis (using machine learning to identify sonic similarities between tracks). The company has invested heavily in this area, acquiring music data startups like The Echo Nest and hiring top experts in the field.

The results speak for themselves – Spotify‘s recommendations are often eerily accurate at predicting what users will enjoy. The company claims that its algorithms drive 35% of all listening on the platform. Personalized playlists like Discover Weekly and Daily Mix have become a key differentiator for Spotify in the competitive music streaming market.

But not everyone is a fan of this algorithmic approach. Critics argue that it can create filter bubbles and echo chambers, where users are only exposed to a narrow range of music aligned with their existing tastes. Some artists have even accused Spotify of using recommendations to favor certain acts and genres over others.

And of course, there are valid reasons why a user might not want Spotify‘s AI DJ choosing their music for them 24/7. Maybe you‘re in the mood for a specific vibe or era that the algorithm hasn‘t picked up on. Or maybe you just want to listen to an album front-to-back with no interruptions.

Luckily, Spotify offers several ways to customize your experience and take back control from the algorithms.

## Taming Spotify‘s Recommendations

If you find Spotify‘s recommendations more annoying than helpful, there are a few key settings to adjust:

1. Turn off AutoPlay: This will stop Spotify from automatically queuing up suggested tracks after your selected music ends. On both desktop and mobile, just go to your settings and toggle off the AutoPlay option.
2. Disable Enhance: To prevent Spotify from adding recommended songs to your personal playlists, open the playlist and click or tap the Enhance button to turn it off. You‘ll need to do this on each playlist individually.
3. Use Private Sessions: When you enable a Private Session (on desktop, click your profile name in the top-right corner; on mobile, go to Settings > Social), Spotify will temporarily stop tracking your listening activity. This can help prevent your recommendations from being skewed by music you don‘t normally listen to.
4. Prune your library: Spotify‘s recommendations are heavily influenced by your listening history and saved library. To reset things, try unfollowing artists and albums you no longer enjoy, and deleting playlists that no longer reflect your tastes. You can also remove individual tracks from your liked songs using the "Remove from Your Library" option.

If you really want to take control of your Spotify experience, you can use third-party tools to analyze and manage your library. Apps like Spotistats and Skiley offer detailed insights into your listening habits and let you bulk-edit your playlists and saved albums. For power users, Spotify‘s API allows you to build your own custom tools and integrations.

But perhaps the most effective way to enjoy Spotify without intrusive recommendations is to simply upgrade to Spotify Premium. The paid tier, which starts at $9.99/month, removes all ads and restrictions, allowing you to listen to any song, album, or playlist on-demand with unlimited skips. You can still use Spotify‘s recommendations if you want, but you‘ll never be forced to hear something you don‘t like.

## The Future of Streaming Personalization

As streaming services like Paramount Plus and Spotify continue to grow, the tensions between personalization and user control will only become more pressing. On one hand, users expect these platforms to understand their unique tastes and serve up tailored recommendations. The algorithms that power this functionality, trained on vast troves of user data, can surface hidden gems and expand our cultural horizons.

But there‘s also a risk of these recommendation algorithms becoming too powerful, trapping users in homogenous filter bubbles and stifling serendipitous discovery. Not to mention valid concerns around data privacy and targeted advertising. As these systems become more sophisticated, it‘s crucial that users have the agency to opt out and exert control over their streaming experience. No one wants to feel like they‘re at the mercy of the machine.

Ultimately, the key is to strike a balance between the benefits of personalization and the need for user autonomy. Paramount Plus and Spotify are on the right track by offering a range of plans and settings to accommodate different preferences – from ad-free viewing to adjustable recommendation levels. Other streaming platforms, whether for video or music or another medium, should take note of this user-centric approach.

As we spend more and more of our lives online, it‘s important that we have a voice in shaping the algorithms that increasingly dictate what we watch, hear, and experience. With the right combination of transparency, user control, and human curation, streaming services can harness the power of personalization to enhance our media diets – not restrict them.

---

Source: [How to Watch Paramount Plus Without Ads \(and Take Control of Spotify Recommendations\)](https://33rdsquare.com/how-to-stop-spotify-from-adding-songs-to-your-playlist/)