Spotify Technology S.A.
Communication Services · Entertainment
Structural read: SPOT is the only scale pure-play in audio streaming, with the cost side (royalties to labels + publishers) historically capping gross margin in the high-20s. 3% (2024) → 31%+ trajectory (2025), with ad-tier and marketplace tools providing further mix lift.
• Gross margin expansion still early - label re-licensing locks in lower variable cost; audiobook bundle is gross-margin accretive vs music
• ~675M MAU funnel - Premium conversion ~39% vs ~30% pre-2022 (audiobook + price hikes drove upgrade)
• Price hikes stuck - 2023/2024 hikes saw <1% churn; pricing power confirmed
• Ad-supported scaling - Spotify Audience Network (SPAN) + automated buying (~$2B run-rate) leverages podcast inventory
• AI features (AI DJ, AI Playlist) deepen engagement without royalty cost - owned/operated content
• Label dependency - UMG/WMG/Sony control catalog; any re-negotiation cycle can compress margin overnight
• $AAPL Music + $AMZN Music + YouTube Music compete with platform subsidy (loss-leader bundling)
• Podcast investment ($1B+ cumulative on Rogan/Gimlet/Parcast) generated underwhelming ROI through 2023; bundling era now
• Subscriber growth decelerating in mature DM markets - Latam/SEA drive the gross-add line but at lower ARPU
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