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.
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.
An Interview with Coda Founder (and Bundle Expert) Shishir Mehrotra
An interview with Coda founder Shishir Mehrotra about documents, go-to-market, and competing with Microsoft, plus bundling, Spotify, and Passport.
Shopify’s Evolution Follow-up, Spotify Acquires Chartable and Podsights
More on Shopify’s Evolution, including the waning opportunities for niche businesses. Then Spotify builds out their tiered advertising strategy.
Digital Advertising Follow-up, Spotify-Rogan Follow-up
Foillow-up on Digital Advertising in 2022, plus Monday’s Daily Update about Spotify.
Spotify and Joe Rogan, Culture and Principles, Music Versus Podcasts and the Long Run
Lessons from Spotify’s recent controversy, both for other tech executives, and also for the Spotify’s long run profitability.