Spotify to axe 1,500 jobs to cut costs

4 December 2023, 10:04

App Stock
App Stock. Picture: PA

The technology firm said it will axe 17% of its workforce to be more efficient in the face of slower growth.

Spotify is to cut almost a fifth of jobs at the music streaming business in a move affecting about 1,500 posts.

Bosses at the technology firm said in a note to staff that it will axe 17% of the workforce in a bid to be more efficient in the face of a growth slowdown.

The company employs around 9,300 people globally.

It did not disclose how many roles would be affected in the UK but employs 881 people in the country, according to its latest annual report.

This would suggest around 150 jobs in the UK may be at risk.

Daniel Ek, chief executive of Spotify, said: “Considering the gap between our financial goal state and our current operational costs, I decided that a substantial action to right-size our costs was the best option to accomplish our objectives.

“While I am convinced this is the right action for our company, I also understand it will be incredibly painful for our team.

“To be blunt, many smart, talented and hard-working people will be departing us.”

He said the business will “build an even stronger Spotify” in 2024 as a result of the cuts.

It is the latest set of job losses at Spotify this year, with the company first announcing it would cut around 600 roles in January.

In the summer, the Sweden-based business said it would cut around 200 jobs in its podcasting unit as it continued to reduce costs.

The company also increased its subscription fees in the UK, US and Australia in July, as it said it would pass cost increases on to customers.

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

A man in a hoodie in front of several computer monitors

Peers urge ministers to step-up efforts to criminalise deepfake abuse

Exclusive
‘The law is really slow in catching up’: Woman fights for justice after friend made deepfake porn of her

‘The law is really slow in catching up’: Woman fights for justice after friend made deepfake porn of her

Charles, left, and Tim Cook

King lauds ‘fantastic’ AI tool at Apple headquarters in Battersea Power Station

Google Android XR

Google announces Android XR operating system for new headsets and smart glasses

The OpenAI logo is displayed on a mobile phone

OpenAI hit by outage after ‘technical issue’ impacts Meta social media apps

Medical equipment in a hospital

NHS uses AI to find ‘frequent attenders’ in A&E

Mobile phone screen showing apps

Meta ‘99%’ finished fixing ‘technical issue’ that caused widespread blackout

Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram icons

Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp faces 'technical issue' as thousands report outage

Google Gemini

Google unveils next-generation version of Gemini AI assistant

Apple Intelligence tools displayed on a range of Apple device screens

How can UK users get Apple Intelligence on their device?

Apple iPhone screens

Apple Intelligence begins rolling out in the UK

A new AI-powered blood test is the first to detect signs of breast cancer in its earliest stages

AI-powered blood test first to spot earliest signs of breast cancer

People on a railway station concourse

People commuting more and going to bed earlier, Virgin Media O2 data shows

A child using a laptop

Teachers ‘reluctant to use AI for pupil learning and assessment’

The Amazon Books Most Sold list ranks books according to the number of copies sold and pre-ordered in both print and ebook (PA)

Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid best-selling book of the year on Amazon UK

An iPhone 16 display

Apple’s UK engineering teams have ‘doubled in size in five years’