Spotify, Going through Pushback Towards Joe Rogan, Reviews Soar in Customers

On Spotify’s earnings name Wednesday, Chief Government

Daniel Ek

referred to as it a really sophisticated situation and mentioned Mr. Rogan, like different creators on the corporate’s platform, has to abide by its content material insurance policies. He added that it was too early to inform if the controversy was having an affect on subscribers.

“There’s little doubt that the final a number of weeks have introduced various studying alternatives,” Mr. Ek mentioned on the decision. “We consider we’ve got a essential position to play in supporting creator expression whereas balancing it with the security of our customers.”

For the fourth quarter, Spotify reported 406 million month-to-month energetic customers, up 18% from a yr earlier and on the excessive finish of the corporate’s steerage. Paying subscribers, its most profitable sort of buyer, rose 16% to 180 million, additionally on the high of the corporate’s expectations.

Spotify shares—down 44% over the previous yr to $191.92—fell one other 11% in after-hours buying and selling as the corporate mentioned it wouldn’t present annual steerage. On the corporate’s earnings name, Spotify monetary chief

Paul Vogel

mentioned that whereas the corporate wasn’t offering such steerage, it didn’t anticipate any materials change this yr in its user-growth trajectory.

Spotify’s outlook for the present quarter was roughly consistent with analysts’ views.

Common income per consumer for the subscription enterprise within the not too long ago accomplished quarter climbed 3% to €4.40. The rise marks the second quarter of a turnaround for the metric, which had been pressured downward for years as the corporate attracted new subscribers by discounted plans and decrease costs in newer markets. Somewhat over a yr in the past, Spotify started elevating the value of its household plan in dozens of markets, together with the U.S., which has helped improve income on a per-user foundation.

Income from subscriptions climbed 22% to €2.295 billion, equal to roughly $2.6 billion. Promoting income shot up 40% to €394 million. Promoting, which generally has accounted for round 10% of total income, has grow to be a specific progress space as Spotify expands its podcast enterprise. Through the quarter, promoting made up about 15% of whole income.

Spotify mentioned it has 3.6 million podcasts obtainable on its service, up from 3.2 million within the earlier quarter.

Mr. Younger’s protest towards Spotify has attracted different musicians, together with

David Crosby

and

Stephen Stills

on Wednesday. The actions come as Mr. Rogan has apologized and pledged to be extra balanced and knowledgeable about controversial subjects and company.

Mr. Rogan has used his common Spotify present to debate Covid-19 vaccines and restrictions, talking towards vaccine mandates for indoor occasions and suggesting that younger, wholesome folks shouldn’t be vaccinated.

In all for the quarter ended Dec. 31, Spotify’s income rose 24% to €2.69 billion, above the corporate’s expectations.

Spotify reported a narrower lack of €39 million from a lack of €125 million a yr earlier. Per share, the corporate posted a lack of 21 European cents, in contrast with a year-earlier lack of 66 European cents. Whereas the corporate has periodically reported a quarterly revenue, executives have mentioned it could proceed to present precedence to progress—attracting new subscribers and investing in podcasting.

Free money move, a measure of the money an organization generates from operations, and seen by many traders as a proxy for efficiency, was €103 million, up from €74 million a yr earlier and €99 million within the earlier quarter.

For the present first quarter, the corporate mentioned it expects month-to-month energetic customers of 418 million, premium subscribers of 183 million and income of €2.6 billion. Analysts, on common, have been anticipating 418.2 million month-to-month energetic customers, 184 million premium subscribers and €2.6 billion in income, in line with FactSet.

Information Corp’s Dow Jones & Co., writer of The Wall Road Journal, has a content material partnership with Spotify’s Gimlet Media unit.

Write to Anne Steele at Anne.Steele@wsj.com