Updated: February 25, 2025
Spotify is the world’s biggest music streaming platform by number of subscribers. Users of the service simply need to register to have access to one of the largest collections of music in history, plus podcasts and other audio content.
It operates on a freemium model. Free Spotify access comes with lower sound quality, advertisements and requires an internet connection. Those who pay for Spotify Premium can listen uninterrupted to high-quality recordings and are able to download songs for offline listening.
Spotify was founded in 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden, by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. The two wanted to create a legal digital music platform to respond to growing challenge of online music piracy in the early 2000s.

AdTech is changing — it’s time to find out how

AI, privacy shifts, and new monetization models are transforming the app industry. Learn more about these changes and other app marketing insights in the AdTech Trends 2025 Playbook by Yango Ads.

[Download Playbook]

AI, privacy shifts, and new monetization models are transforming the app industry. Learn more about these changes and other app marketing insights in the AdTech Trends 2025 Playbook by Yango Ads.
Eventually convincing record labels to agree to share content in return for an aggregate 20 percent stake, Spotify was launched in 2008. It was an instant success, with a Facebook partnership helping it rise rapidly to prominence. Surviving the transition to mobile, Spotify went public in April 2018, with a market cap of $26.5 billion after the first day of trading.
It has drawn criticism from recording artists, who complain that it pays too little. Claims to democratize the music industry have also been questioned, with the world’s biggest four music labels responsible for 87 percent of content available on Spotify.
Unfair or not, with the days of physical music long behind us (with the exception of vinyl junkies), Spotify dominates the way we consume music this century. It does have some competition in the field however, its rivals include Apple Music, Amazon and YouTube, alongside smaller and less well funded services.
Spotify has branched into podcasts, acquiring some of the leading podcasters and podcast networks, such as the Joe Rogan Experience, The Ringer, and Gimlet Media. It sees this as the next pillar of its streaming service, potentially keeping users locked onto the platform for longer. Audiobooks are another layer of the listening market that Spotify is trying to compete in, offering 15 hours free to premium subscribers.
We have collected data and statistics on Spotify. Read on below to find out more. Looking for in-depth information? Check out our music app report.
Want to learn more about the music app industry? In our Music App Report, we cover financials, usage, downloads and demographics by app and industry, alongside market share, engagement, and benchmarks.
Spotify increased its annual revenue by 17.9% in 2024 to €15.6 billion. It has tripled its revenue in the past five years.

Sources: Music App Report, Company data
Spotify’s reported its first net profit in 2024, an indication that it’s shift to other types of audio content is working.
Sources: Music App Report, Company data
Spotify average revenue per user increase in 2024 to €4.62, the highest its been in five years.
Note: Values taken in Q2 of each year. Source: Company data
Spotify had 626 million unique users in 2024, who either use the platform for free with ads or subscribe for ad-free access.

Note: Values are from Q2 of each respective year. Source: Company data
Spotify’s rest of world subscribers surpassed Europe for the first time in 2023, becoming the largest market.
Source: Company data
Spotify had 246 million subscribers in 2024, a 11.8% increase year-on-year. It surpassed 200 million in Q4 2022.

Source: Company data
Spotify had 92 million subscribers in Europe and 64 million in North America, aligning with the regional splits for users.
Source: Company data
A majority of Spotify users are under 35 years old, but the average age has been increasing steadily over the years, as music streaming becomes the dominant listening format for all ages.
Note: Covers US age demographics. Source: Verto Analytics 
Women make up 56% of Spotify’s usage, which matches with surveys conducted on Apple Music users.
Note: Covers US age demographics. Source: Verto Analytics 
North American users spend the most time on Spotify every day, European users spend the least amount of time on the platform.
Source: GlobalWebIndex
Spotify is far ahead of competitors in terms of total subscribers, and has extended its lead over the past half decade.

Want to learn more? Check out our Music App Report

Spotify currently holds 100 million songs in its library, with 60,000 added every day
Drake is the most streamed artist, with more than 40 billion lifetime plays (ChartMasters)
Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You holds the top spot at 4.3 billion plays (full list)
Spotify is currently available in 171 markets
44% of users listen to Spotify on a daily basis (Goodwater Capital) 
Spotify currently holds five million podcasts in its library
Estimates vary on how much a Spotify stream is worth to artist: from $0.006-0.0084 to as low as $0.00318 per stream (The Verge/Soundcharts)
Spotify claims it has paid €21 billion to rights holders

Marketplace | News & Insights | Data | Events
Media
Marketplace
App Data
Site Info
Follow Us

source