WARNER MUSIC GROUP AND SPOTIFY ANNOUNCE NEW MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT TO FUEL GROWTH AND INNOVATION

Core Insights - Spotify and Warner Music Group (WMG) have entered into a new multi-year agreement that encompasses both Recorded Music and Music Publishing, aimed at enhancing their commitment to artists, songwriters, and fans while fostering the growth of the music ecosystem through innovative collaboration [1][2]. Group 1: Agreement Details - The new deal will facilitate the development of new fan experiences, a more extensive music and video catalog, additional paid subscription tiers, and unique content bundles [2]. - The agreement reinforces the existing alignment around 'artist centric' royalty models, which are designed to reward and protect artists' ability to engage audiences [2]. - A significant aspect of the new publishing agreement is the introduction of a direct licensing model with Warner Chappell Music in several countries, including the U.S., which benefits songwriters in the evolving music landscape [2]. Group 2: Leadership Perspectives - Robert Kyncl, CEO of WMG, emphasized that the agreement provides new advantages for artists, songwriters, and fans, while promoting further collaboration to expand the music ecosystem [3]. - Daniel Ek, Founder and CEO of Spotify, stated that 2025 is a year of accelerated execution for Spotify, highlighting the shared commitment with WMG to rapid innovation and sustained investment in music offerings [3]. Group 3: Company Backgrounds - Warner Music Group operates in over 70 countries and includes a diverse range of renowned labels and a music publishing arm with a catalog of over one million copyrights across various musical genres [4]. - Spotify, since its launch in 2008, has transformed music listening and has expanded into podcasting and audiobooks, currently offering over 100 million tracks, 6.5 million podcast titles, and 350,000 audiobooks [5][6].