Spotify is conducting big layoffs, thanks in part to debt it took out in a zero-interest rate environment. What is more problematic is that the company has little to show for its spending.
Spotify Subscription Audiobooks, Casual Fans and Bundles, Spotify’s Goals
Audiobooks on Spotify will not be available for “free” to Spotify Premium subscribers. It’s a move that makes sense for Spotify, and is one that authors should embrace.
Disney’s Taylor Swift Era
Not even Taylor Swift can fight the devaluation of recorded music, but she makes it up in physical experiences; Disney isn’t much different, but it looks much worse given the company’s old business model.
Streaming Residuals and Spotify, Llama 2 Open-Sourced, Llama’s License
Streaming residuals might end up looking like Spotify. Then, Meta makes Llama 2 open source — mostly.
AI, NIL, and Zero Trust Authenticity
AI-generated content is not going to harm those with the capability of breaking through: it will make them stronger, aided by Zero Trust Authenticity
Spotify’s New Home Page, Categorizing Advertising, Spotify’s Competition for Discovery
Spotify announced a new home page, which makes sense both in isolation and in the context of Spotify’s competition with YouTube.
EU Narrows Apple Case, Snap’s My AI
The European Commission closes on a ruling that makes sense for Apple’s App Store, and Snap launches their own OpenAI-powered chat bot
Spotify Earnings, Spotify Exclusives, Spotify vs. Apple
Spotify’s earnings were solid, although I am more skeptical of its podcast exclusive strategy than ever. Plus, Apple continues to act anti-competitively, this time in e-books.
Spotify, Netflix, and Aggregation
The original definition of Aggregation Theory emphasized the importance of commoditized supply; that makes Spotify more of an Aggregator than Netflix
Spotify’s Investor Day, Spotify’s Music Aggregation, Podcast Anecdata
Spotify’s investor day may not have convinced Wall Street, but the company provided compelling evidence its approach was working.