Spotify Hits Record 751 Million Monthly Listeners Worldwide

Spotify has achieved a historic milestone, reaching 751 million monthly active users worldwide. The record-breaking figure highlights the platform’s continued global expansion, strong user engagement, and growing influence in the music streaming industry. Driven by diverse content offerings, personalized playlists, and podcast investments, Spotify’s surge in listeners reinforces its leadership position and signals sustained momentum in the competitive digital audio market.

Spotify has smashed its own records, climbing to 751 million monthly active users and 290 million paying subscribers, the biggest quarterly jump the company has ever seen. Its annual Wrapped experience turned into a global phenomenon, drawing in 300 million users and sparking 630 million shares across 56 languages, making it the platform’s most impactful campaign yet.

The audio giant distributed an unprecedented $11 billion to the music industry over the past year, even as it increased its premium subscription fee to $12.99. By the close of 2025, Spotify had added a remarkable 38 million new monthly users, a historic leap for the company.

In its fourth-quarter earnings update, the Sweden-headquartered streamer revealed an 11% rise in monthly active users, pushing its global audience to 751 million, the largest net addition in its history. Paid memberships also climbed 10% to 290 million. Quarterly revenue surpassed $5.3 billion, reflecting 7% growth, while net income reached approximately $1.4 billion.

Investors responded enthusiastically, sending Spotify’s stock up nearly 15% to close at $476.02 on Tuesday. The company attributes much of this momentum to its most ambitious Wrapped campaign ever. The personalized year-in-review feature captured worldwide attention, while Spotify simultaneously rolled out upgrades such as music videos and expanded audiobook access for both free and premium listeners.

In a statement, founder and executive chairman Daniel Ek emphasized that Spotify has evolved into a comprehensive audio technology platform, one designed to power how creators and audiences connect. He also highlighted the transformative role of emerging technologies like AI, new user interfaces, wearables, and immersive content experiences, noting that Spotify intends to keep innovating across music, podcasts, books, video, live content, and beyond.

Operating income surged 47% to $834 million, with the company employing 7,323 people worldwide by the end of the quarter. Advertising revenue from its ad-supported tier dipped 4%, affected partly by softer pricing in music ads. Podcast growth, fueled largely by sponsorship deals, was balanced by strategic adjustments to podcast inventory.

In recent months, Spotify has doubled down on podcasting, launching a new studio in Hollywood, broadening monetization tools for creators, and introducing select video podcasts through a partnership with Netflix. On the music front, Spotify reiterated that it paid out over $11 billion last year, calling it the largest single-year payment to the music industry by any retailer. The company also noted that independent artists and labels generated roughly half of all royalties distributed.

Since its founding in 2006, Spotify has grown into the world’s leading audio streaming subscription service, with a major footprint in Los Angeles’ Arts District. Today, its platform features more than 530,000 video podcasts and over 500,000 audiobooks in English-speaking markets. Looking ahead, Spotify expects to add another 8 million monthly active users in the first quarter of 2026, bringing its total closer to 759 million, alongside a projected increase of 3 million paid subscribers. Revenue is forecast to remain steady at approximately $5.3 billion.

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Source: latimes‍