Spotify Founder Resigns As CEO Amid Strong Criticism Of Musicians

Spotify (Doc. Spotify)

JAKARTA - Spotify founder Daniel Ek has announced his resignation from his position as CEO. This decision was taken amid controversy and criticism over the issue of the payment of artists and their investments in the arms sector.

As is known, Ek founded this streaming service two decades ago and has served as CEO since then. Now, it has been announced that he will switch to the role of Spotify Executive Chair starting January 1, 2026.

Alex Norstr\"om and Gustav Sodderstr\"om will replace their position as CEO (co-CEO) Spotify.

"As Executive Chair, I will devote more time to my long-term strategy: strategy, capital allocation, regulatory efforts, and decisions that will form the next decade for Spotify," said Ek in a statement, quoted by NME, Wednesday, October 1.

"Gustav and Alex will continue to report to me, and we will work closely with our Board of Directors," he added.

He further stated that this step was taken in order to shift his focus to other businesses.

"Personal notes about my next plans. I'm often asked, 'How do we build more Spotify from Europe?' That's why a few years ago, I announced my intention to help create more of these super companies' companies developing new technologies to address some of the biggest challenges of our time," he said.

One of the businesses that Ek involves is his investment company, Prima Materiala, which leads investment in Munich-based companies that create drones and artificial intelligence for military operations.

This move led to a number of artists withdrawing their music catalogs from Spotify, including Massive Attack (trip-hop group from England), King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (Australian psychedelic rock group), Godspeed You! Black Employee ( Canadian post-rock group), Deerhoof (US alternative group), to the Panel of Tongue Berduri (band from Yogyakarta, Indonesia).