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.
An Interview with Spike Eskin About Radio, Podcasts, and Internet Stars
An interview with WFAN’s Spike Eskin about the radio business, how it is different than podcasts, and how stars are made on the Internet.
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.
Podcast Grifting; Aggregator Lessons; Ostroff, Simmons, and Harry
Bill Simmons calls Harry and Meghan grifters; he seems to have a case, but the larger issue is why Spotify mistakenly thought they would be valuable in the first place.
An Interview with DNVR Co-Founder Adam Mares About Building Local Internet Businesses
An interview with DNVR founder Adam Mares about building an Internet publishing company with roots in the real world, based on local differentiation, and scaling it across the company.
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.
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.
Sharp Tech and Stratechery Plus
Stratechery is launching a new podcast: Sharp Tech with Ben Thompson. In addition, the Stratechery Update subscription has now been expanded to the Stratechery Plus subscription, including the Stratechery Update, Stratechery Interviews, Sharp Tech, and Dithering.
An Interview With Michael Mignano About Podcasts, Standards, and Recommendation Media
An interview with former Anchor co-founder and CEO Michael Mignano about podcasts, Anchor, Spotify, standards, and recommendation media.
An Interview With The New York Times Company CEO Meredith Kopit Levien
An Interview with The New York Times Company CEO Meredith Kopit Levien about her path to The New York Times Company, what it is like managing an entity where the most important product is out of your control, and a substantial dive into her thinking about bundles, recent acquisitions, and how The New York Times Company can transform from a skyscraper into a neighborhood.