Who Owns Spotify?

Who Owns Spotify? Breakdown of Shareholders, Founders & Influence

Spotify isn’t just a music streaming app — it’s a digital powerhouse that reshaped how the world listens to music. With over half a billion users globally, it’s only natural to wonder: Who owns Spotify? Who controls the world’s biggest music streaming platform?

In this guide, we’ll explore the history of Spotify, the key figures behind its success, its ownership structure, and what the future holds for this audio streaming giant.

Detailed History of Spotify

Spotify was founded in April 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden, by Daniel Ek (a tech entrepreneur) and Martin Lorentzon (a digital marketing expert and co-founder of Tradedoubler). The company was launched as a response to rampant music piracy from original creators, offering a legal, seamless, and user-friendly way to stream music online.

After its official launch in 2008, Spotify quickly gained traction across Europe, before expanding to the United States in 2011. Its freemium model (offering a free ad-supported tier alongside paid subscriptions) proved incredibly successful.

Today, Spotify operates globally, providing access to over 100 million tracks online and offline, exclusive podcasts, and audiobooks in dozens of languages.

Stock Shares of Spotify

Spotify went public in April 2018 via a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker SPOT.

Here’s how ownership breaks down:

  • Daniel Ek, co-founder and CEO, is one of the largest individual shareholders.
  • Martin Lorentzon, co-founder and Chairman, also owns a significant portion.
  • Institutional investors like Baillie Gifford, Morgan Stanley, and Vanguard hold large chunks of stock.
  • Unlike many Silicon Valley tech companies, Spotify does not use dual-class shares, meaning voting power is tied directly to ownership stakes.

Spotify is now a publicly traded company, but its founders still play a major leadership role.

Potential Expansion of Spotify

Spotify has consistently shown interest in expanding beyond music:

  • Podcasts: With exclusive deals (like The Joe Rogan Experience) and Neil Young’s comeback, Spotify is now a top podcast platform globally.
  • Audiobooks: In 2023, Spotify launched an audiobook section, included in some Premium plans.
  • AI DJ & Personalization Tools: Spotify continues to invest in AI-driven playlists and DJ to enhance the user experience. Also, collaboration with biggest ads network to drive AI ads.
  • Video Content: Music videos and artist clips are now being introduced gradually across regions.
  • Educational Content: Spotify has begun experimenting with online learning and short-form education audio.

Their long-term vision? To become the #1 global audio platform — not just for music, but for everything you listen to.

Current Users of Spotify

As of 2025, Spotify boasts:

  • Over 615 million monthly active users
  • More than 250 million Premium subscribers
  • Operations in over 180 countries
  • A catalog of 100+ million songs, 5+ million podcasts, and a growing number of audiobooks

Spotify remains the global market leader in music streaming, ahead of Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and others.

Conclusion

So, who owns Spotify? It started in the hands of two Swedish innovators — Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon — and has since grown into a public company with shareholders around the world. While it’s now traded on the NYSE, the founders still guide its vision as Spotify continues to dominate and diversify the audio streaming space.

From music to podcasts, audiobooks to AI tools & ads, Spotify’s journey is far from over.

Download Spotify on iOS, Android, MacOS, PC and Smart TV to enjoy seamless music streaming. Also, Visit our homepage for updates, downloads, and expert guides.

FAQs

Spotify was co-founded in 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon in Stockholm, Sweden.

No, Spotify is a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol SPOT.

Spotify is available in over 180 countries and has more than 615 million active users, including 250+ million Premium subscribers as of 2025.

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