Spotify is reportedly pursuing expansion into Vietnam and Thailand. Unnamed sources told TechCrunch about the planned Asian rollouts. Spotify did not comment on those rumors, but it is currently hiring for music editor jobs for both Vietnam and Thailand. Continue Reading
Spotify has settled a class-action lawsuit over mechanical royalties with the creation of a fund for compensating the artists and labels who have not been paid those fees. If approved by the court, Spotify will set up a fund worth $43.4 million for payouts around compositions that it played without paying mechanical royalties. Continue Reading
Spotify has reportedly added four new members to its board of directors in advance of its potential plans for a direct listing on the NYSE. The addition of Tom Staggs, former COO for Disney, has drawn particular notice. Continue Reading
Spotify has announced two changes to its team. First, it has hired M&A specialist Sheila Spence. The other personnel change is the departure of product director Matthew Ogle. Continue Reading
This week, Spotify announced that it is now testing open exchanges for real-time buying for its audio inventory. The streaming company will be working with select SSP and DSP partners for this latest effort in programmatic advertising. Continue Reading
Spotify has embarked on yet another acquisition. The streaming service has bought Niland, a Paris-based machine learning startup offering music analysis technology. Niland’s work has improved how AI can optimize search and recommendation features for music. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: Warner Music Nashville streaming promotion; Germany moves to make FM-only radio receivers illegal; Spotify valuation still growing. Continue Reading
After sparking a storm of speculation earlier this year, Spotify may indeed be moving forward with its plan for and IPO-less IPO. The streaming company has reportedly hired Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Allen & Co to advise it on pursuing a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Continue Reading
Spotify has added a new option for how its users can share music from across the platform with their friends. The feature is called Spotify Codes, and they are akin to QR codes. Point your phone at one of the codes, take a picture, and you’ll unlock information on your own device. Continue Reading
Spotify has entered into a partnership with Capital One that will offer discounted music subscriptions to customers of both businesses. Under this collaboration, users who sign up for Spotify with a Capital One Quicksilver card will get a 50% credit rebate. The promotion applies to the full $9.99 a month tier as well as the student and family plans. Continue Reading
Spotify is reportedly making plans to lease a new office space in London. The company is in advanced negotiations for a 60,000 square foot space, three times the size of its current office in the UK. Continue Reading
Spotify announced that it has hired Olivia Regnier as its legal director of EU regulatory affairs. Regnier joins Spotify on May 8 after two decades with the IFPI, most recently as director of the trade body’s European Regional Office. Continue Reading