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Happy Friday to you! We wrap the first week of May with a nice selection of Spotify news.
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★ In the SPOTlight:
🎵 Where will Spotify Be in 5 Years?
Music-streaming champion Spotify is in the global spotlight right now. Consumers all around the world crave entertainment to cope with the social distancing policies of the COVID-19 era, and Spotify can help with that in 79 countries.
The leading music service is making the most of this unexpected star turn. The company just reported results for the corona-tinged first quarter, showing the strongest year-over-year revenue growth and subscriber additions since 2018.
Where is Spotify going from here?
🎵 Spotify's Latest Earnings Shoot Straight on Losses, Pandemic Impact & On-Demand Video
The pandemic is quickening the pace of changes in listener behaviors. "Listeners' move to on-demand will be accelerated due to this pandemic as more and more people are learning new habits and new experiences," Ek said. The audience for TV and game consoles "has grown materially," over 50% greater than Q1 2019. The question is, however, what happens to in-home listening once shelter-at-home orders are lifted.
Music streaming will be relatively unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic. "Music streaming as a category will not be as impacted as other categories," said Ek.
🎵 Spotify CEO expects Apple will ‘open up’ even more in the future
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said he expects longtime rival Apple will “open up” iOS and its platforms more in the future as a result of contention with developers and growing antitrust concern from regulators.
Spotify filed a regulatory complaint with the European Union last year, calling Apple’s mandatory 30 percent App Store cut a “tax” that stifles innovation and unfairly benefits Apple against its competitors.
🔥 Even more hot news links
Spotify is testing video podcasts with two YouTube stars
Spotify Celebrates Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month With 'Our Roots. Our Sound.'
Spotify Has a Big Opportunity Right Now
How To Share Your Songs on Socials From Spotify
Architecture Decision Records At Spotify
How We Work Now: Spotify VP/Co-Head of Music Marian Dicus
“Harry Potter” At-Home Readings from J.K. Rowling and Spotify brings star-studded first book to life
Spotify finally brings family plan to South Africa
Spotify CEO Sees an $18 Billion Opportunity in Selling Ads
🎧 A Playlist… to check out
🎼 And now… a little music
New Adventures in Spotify returns with volume 4, blasting off with a wicked first foursome featuring R.E.M. (@remhq), Van Morrison (@vanmorrison), Ian Fitzgerald (@fitzgeraldian) and Teddy Pendergrass (teddypendergrassofficial.com).
The rest of the playlist features super songs from Bryan Ferry, Sting, Gin Blossoms, Dusty Springfield, Billy Bragg, The Pretenders, The Who, Wynton Marsalis, and more!