SIX-MONTH SURGE: SPOTIFY STOCK GROWTH DOUBLES
Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming service, has seen its stock price soar by nearly 100% in the last six months, reaching a new record high of $150.31 per share on Wednesday. The company’s market capitalization has doubled to $29.1 billion, making it one of the most valuable players in the audio industry. The stock surge reflects Spotify’s strong performance in 2023, when it added 145 million users and 63 million paid subscribers, thanks to its aggressive investment in podcasting and its expansion into new markets. Spotify now has over 660 million total users and 251 million paid subscribers, making it the world’s largest and fastest-growing audio platform.
Spotify’s podcasting strategy has been a key driver of its growth and differentiation. The company has spent over $2 billion on podcasting acquisitions since 2019, including Gimlet Media, The Ringer, and Parcast. It has also secured exclusive deals with popular podcasters such as Joe Rogan, Bill Simmons, and Alex Cooper, attracting millions of loyal listeners to its platform. Spotify’s podcasting efforts have also boosted its advertising business, which accounted for 18% of its revenue in the first quarter of 2023, a new high for the company. Spotify’s advertising revenue grew 85% year-over-year to $412 million, driven by strong demand for podcast ads and the launch of new ad products and formats.
However, Spotify’s podcasting ambitions have also faced some challenges and controversies. The company has reportedly struggled to monetize its podcast catalogue and generate a return on its investments. It has also faced backlash from some artists and listeners over its handling of controversial content, such as Joe Rogan’s misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.
Spotify has pledged to put advisories on podcasts that discuss Covid-19 and to remove any content that violates its policies or local laws. But some musicians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have pulled their music from Spotify to protest Rogan’s platform. Some podcast hosts and social media users joined the boycott and deleted the app.
In a recent interview, Spotify’s chief executive officer Daniel Ek said that it is too soon to know whether the boycott is impacting its business. He said that controversies usually last for months, not days and that he feels good about where the company is. He also said that Spotify always looks for new ways to innovate and create more value for its creators and listeners.
Spotify’s chief financial officer Paul Vogel said that the second quarter of 2023 will be a smaller part of the overall subscriber picture and that it has become less important for growth. He said that the company had shifted some of its promotional plans so that more growth would happen in other quarters. He also said that Spotify expects to end the second quarter with 675 million total users and 258 million paid subscribers, slightly below Wall Street forecasts.
Spotify’s stock price has risen by 94% since the start of 2023, reflecting its growing dominance in the podcasting industry. But will its podcasting pivot pay off in the long run? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
