Spotify and Sony Music Group announced Thursday that they are extending and expanding their long‐standing global partnership, locking in new agreements with both Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Music Publishing.
What the Deal Between Sony and Spotify Covers
The expansion includes multiyear contracts aimed at boosting growth, innovation, and more value for artists, songwriters, and listeners around the world. Of particular note is a direct licensing agreement in the United States between Spotify and Sony Music Publishing that ensures songwriters share more immediately in streaming’s growth. The deal also encompasses new product offerings, such as enhanced audio and visual formats designed to deepen fan-artist engagement.
Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek said, “Our partnership with Sony is built on a shared drive to shape the future of music. Together, we’re accelerating the pace of innovation to create powerful new opportunities and increasing revenue for artists and songwriters.”
Rob Stringer, Chairman of Sony Music Group, added, “Sony Music Group and Spotify have long been mutually committed to advancing music streaming and growing the marketplace for all. This is further reflected in our new agreements, where we’re working to develop futuristic approaches that ensure our artists and songwriters remain appropriately compensated for their work, and audiences are getting a high-quality experience that’s ever evolving.”
Alex Norström, Spotify’s Co-President and Chief Business Officer, said: “These deals with Sony Music Group are built to better support artists and songwriters by unlocking new formats and forging deeper connections with fans. This alignment creates space for new opportunities and long-term growth for everyone involved.”
In the United States, the direct licensing arrangement marks a departure from more traditional models. It is one among several recent direct publishing deals that Spotify has struck — with Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, and Kobalt — as the company seeks to improve compensation structures for music creators.
For songwriters, the agreement promises more transparent earnings and faster flow of revenue. For listeners, the promise of enhanced audio and visual formats could shift how music is consumed on the platform. And for the music industry at large, this deal underscores a trend toward more direct licensing agreements, especially in the U.S., which may reshape the economics of streaming.