Spotify and Warner Music Group (WMG) have announced a multi-year agreement that will enhance their collaboration on recorded music and publishing.
This deal follows a similar one between Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) and is expected to introduce new subscription tiers, music-video content, and exclusive fan experiences.
What’s New in the Deal?
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek revealed that the company is working on a “superfan” premium tier, which could offer exclusive features for subscribers.
While details are still scarce, this aligns with Spotify’s long-rumored hi-fi tier. The deal also includes a direct licensing model with Warner Chappell Music, which controls over a million copyrights.
WMG CEO Robert Kyncl emphasized that this agreement benefits artists, songwriters, and fans while expanding opportunities for collaboration. He also stated that it helps align rights holders with streaming services to create more value in the music industry.
Spotify’s Strong Performance in 2024
This deal comes after a successful 2024 for Spotify, marking its first full year of profitability.
The company reported a record operating income of €477 million ($509 million) in Q4, contributing to a total annual profit of €1.4 billion ($1.49 billion). Spotify also added 35 million new monthly active users (MAUs) in Q4, reaching a total of 675 million.
With these new music deals, Spotify aims to boost revenue and expand its paid subscription offerings, reinforcing its position as the top music streaming platform.