Spotify is the world’s biggest music streaming platform by number of subscribers. Users of the service simply need to register to have access to one of the largest collections of music in history, plus podcasts and other audio content.
It operates on a freemium model. Free Spotify access comes with lower sound quality, advertisements and requires an internet connection. Those who pay for Spotify Premium can listen uninterrupted to high-quality recordings and are able to download songs for offline listening.
Spotify was founded in 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden, by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. The two wanted to create a legal digital music platform to respond to growing challenge of online music piracy in the early 2000s.
Eventually convincing record labels to agree to share content in return for an aggregate 20 percent stake, Spotify was launched in 2008. It was an instant success, with a Facebook partnership helping it rise rapidly to prominence. Surviving the transition to mobile, Spotify went public in April 2018, with a market cap of $26.5 billion after the first day of trading.
It has drawn criticism from recording artists, who complain that it pays too little. Claims to democratize the music industry have also been questioned, with the world’s biggest four music labels responsible for 87 percent of content available on Spotify.
Unfair or not, with the days of physical music long behind us (with the exception of vinyl junkies), Spotify dominates the way we consume music this century. It does not have the run of the market, however. Its rivals include Deezer, Pandora, and most ominously Apple Music, which has gained market leadership in the US and a few other countries.
Spotify has branched off into podcasts, acquiring some of the leading podcasters and podcast networks, such as the Joe Rogan Experience, The Ringer, and Gimlet Media. It sees this as the next pillar of its streaming service, potentially keeping users locked onto the platform for longer.
It also, along with most social networks, launched a Clubhouse-like live audio platform, which it first named Greenroom but relaunched as Spotify Live. Like Clubhouse, live audio has fallen off somewhat since the pandemic, but Spotify and Twitter look best to capitalize on whatever audience is left.
We have collected data and statistics on Spotify. Read on below to find out more.
Spotify key statistics
- Spotify generated €9.66 billion revenue in 2021, a 22% increase year-on-year
- Spotify has never published an net profit. In 2021, it posted a €39 million loss
- 422 million people use Spotify once a month, 182 million are subscribers
- 70 million songs are available on Spotify and 2.9 million podcasts
Spotify overview
| Title 1 | Title 2 |
|---|---|
| Launch date | 23 April 2006 |
| HQ | Stockholm, Sweden |
| People | Daniel Ek (CEO, co-founder), Martin Lorentzon (co-founder) |
| Company type | Public (NYSE: SPOT) |
| Industry | Music streaming |
Spotify revenue
Spotify increased its annual revenue by 22% in 2021 to €9.66 billion. It has tripled its revenue in the past five years.
Spotify quarterly revenue 2016 to 2022 ($mm)
Spotify annual revenue 2016 to 2021 ($bn)
| Year | Revenue (€bn) |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2.94 |
| 2017 | 4.62 |
| 2018 | 5.25 |
| 2019 | 6.76 |
| 2020 | 7.88 |
| 2021 | 9.66 |
Source: Company data
Spotify ARPU
Spotify average revenue per user has decreased over the past few years, dropping from €4.89 in 2018 to €4.29 in 2021.
Spotify average revenue per user 2018 to 2021 ($)
Note: This does not include non-premium users. Values taken in Q2 of each year. Source: Company data
Spotify profit
Spotify has not reported an annual profit, as it has been hampered by royalty fees which are split 70/30 between the artist/rights holder and Spotify.
Spotify annual net income / loss 2009 to 2021 ($mm)
| Year | Net income / loss ($mm) |
|---|---|
| 2009 | -18.8 |
| 2010 | -28.5 |
| 2011 | -45.4 |
| 2012 | -83.6 |
| 2013 | -63 |
| 2014 | -188 |
| 2015 | -230 |
| 2016 | -539 |
| 2017 | -1235 |
| 2018 | -78 |
| 2019 | -186 |
| 2020 | -581 |
| 2021 | -39 |
Source: Company data
Spotify users
Spotify had 422 million unique users in Q1 2022, who either use the platform for free with ads or subscribe for ad-free access.
Spotify annual users 2015 to 2022 (mm)
Spotify annual users 2015 to 2021 (mm)
| Year | Users (mm) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 77 |
| 2016 | 104 |
| 2017 | 138 |
| 2018 | 180 |
| 2019 | 232 |
| 2020 | 299 |
| 2021 | 365 |
Note: Values are from Q2 of each respective year. Source: Company data
Spotify users by region
Spotify’s largest market in 2021 was Europe, with 121 million users. Its largest individual country is the US, which accounted for 65 million of its users.
Spotify annual users by region 2016 to 2021 (mm)
| Year | Europe | North America | Latin America | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 40 | 36 | 20 | 8 |
| 2017 | 51 | 46 | 28 | 13 |
| 2018 | 67 | 56 | 38 | 20 |
| 2019 | 84 | 65 | 49 | 35 |
| 2020 | 102 | 78 | 66 | 54 |
| 2021 | 121 | 85 | 78 | 71 |
Source: Company data
Spotify subscribers
Spotify had 182 million subscribers in Q1 2022, a 15% increase year-on-year. It surpassed 100 million in Q1 2019.
Spotify quarterly subscribers 2015 to 2022 (mm)
Spotify annual subscribers 2015 to 2021 (mm)
| Year | Subscribers (mm) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 59 |
| 2018 | 83 |
| 2019 | 108 |
| 2020 | 138 |
| 2021 | 165 |
Source: Company data
Spotify subscribers by region
Spotify had 66 million subscribers in Europe and 48 million in North America, aligning with the regional splits for users.
Spotify annual subscribers by region 2018 to 2021 (mm)
| Year | Europe | North America | Latin America | Rest of World |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 33 | 26 | 17 | 7 |
| 2019 | 43 | 32 | 22 | 11 |
| 2020 | 54 | 40 | 29 | 15 |
| 2021 | 66 | 48 | 33 | 18 |
Source: Company data
Spotify age demographics
A majority of Spotify users are under 35 years old, but the average age has been increasing steadily over the years, as music streaming becomes the dominant listening format for all ages.
Spotify age demographics 2021 (%)
| Age | Percentage of users |
|---|---|
| 18-24 | 26 |
| 25-34 | 29 |
| 35-44 | 16 |
| 45-54 | 11 |
| 55+ | 19 |
Note: Covers US age demographics. Source: Verto Analytics
Spotify gender demographics
Women make up 56% of Spotify’s usage in 2021, which matches with surveys conducted on Apple Music users.
Spotify gender demographics 2021 (%)
| Gender | Percentage of users |
|---|---|
| Female | 56 |
| Male | 44 |
Note: Covers US age demographics. Source: Verto Analytics
Spotify usage time by region
North American users spend the most time on Spotify every day, European users spend the least amount of time on the platform.
Spotify daily usage time by region 2021 (minutes)
| Region | Average daily usage (minutes) |
|---|---|
| North America | 140 |
| Middle East & Africa | 124 |
| Latin America | 117 |
| Asia Pacific | 110 |
| Europe | 99 |
Source: GlobalWebIndex
Spotify vs Apple Music: users
Spotify FAQ
How many songs are on Spotify?
Spotify currently holds 70 million songs in its library, with 60,000 added every day
Who is the most streamed artist on Spotify?
Drake is the most streamed artist, with more than 40 billion lifetime plays (ChartMasters)
What is the most streamed song on Spotify?
Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You holds the top spot at 2.9 billion plays (full list)
How many countries is Spotify available in?
Spotify is currently available in 171 markets
How many Spotify users access the app once a day?
44% of users listen to Spotify on a daily basis (Goodwater Capital)
How many podcasts are on Spotify?
Spotify currently holds 2.9 million podcasts in its library
How much does Spotify pay an artist per stream?
Estimates vary on how much a Spotify stream is worth to artist: from $0.006-0.0084 to as low as $0.00318 per stream (The Verge/Soundcharts)
How much has Spotify paid out to rights holders since launch?
Spotify claims it has paid €21 billion to rights holders
