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Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

newsroom.spotify.com

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Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#761

Post by hasmolo »

criddell wrote: post #758
rez9x wrote: post #649

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently left Spotify for Apple Music, in large part because of this new development path. I don't want podcasts, audiobooks, etc mixed in with my music. I prefer separate apps. I think what bothered me more was the focus on branching into these new paths without any innovation in the music department--I'm sure there was innovation that wasn't visible to me. I'm tired of the same black and green color scheme. I don…

I too recently left Spotify for Apple Music because it works better on my Home Pod and Apple TV. I don't know why Spotify doesn't fix this. I know they are in a feud with Apple and maybe they think this is a way to apply pressure to Apple, but the risk is they lose people like me. There were other reasons for leaving. I don't like that I can't hide or disable audiobooks or podcasts. They take up a lot of important sc…

frequently apple has non official api they use for inhouse apps that provide better interfacing with hardware

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#762

Post by bede »

coldpie wrote: post #433
bede wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a scientist working in public health, this decision burned my faith in Spotify. They were taking down conspiracy theory podcasts daily while bankrolling Rogan to provide a platform with insane reach for cranks like Robert Malone. I cancelled my subscription for a few months in protest.

> for a few months Heh. There's a zillion perfectly good competitors in this space. Why not just permanently switch to one that doesn't fund conspiracy theory wackos?

Not absolute, but pausing a sub with an explanation sends an immediate message. Which services would you recommend? I'm mostly after a broad and fresh electronic music catalogue.

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#763

Post by dkarl »

rez9x wrote: post #649
crazygringo wrote: post #596

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is completely backwards. They didn't hire "for the sake of hiring" -- they hired specifically to build up their podcasting and audiobook efforts, which were totally new products within the app. Which they thought were essential to staying competitive -- e.g. what if people start moving over to Amazon instead with its Music+Wondery+Audible, or other competitors? Now it's turned out those bets haven't been as succ…

I recently left Spotify for Apple Music, in large part because of this new development path. I don't want podcasts, audiobooks, etc mixed in with my music. I prefer separate apps. I think what bothered me more was the focus on branching into these new paths without any innovation in the music department--I'm sure there was innovation that wasn't visible to me. I'm tired of the same black and green color scheme. I don…

Counter-anecdote, I like that Spotify hasn't changed, and if it changed significantly tomorrow, it might prompt me to look at competitors and decide afresh which music service to use.

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#764

Post by mrguyorama »

robin_reala wrote: post #750
crazygringo wrote: post #596

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is completely backwards. They didn't hire "for the sake of hiring" -- they hired specifically to build up their podcasting and audiobook efforts, which were totally new products within the app. Which they thought were essential to staying competitive -- e.g. what if people start moving over to Amazon instead with its Music+Wondery+Audible, or other competitors? Now it's turned out those bets haven't been as succ…

Maybe it’s just me, but as a CEO if you misjudge enough to have to fire a double-digit percentage of your staff shouldn’t you face some consequences, like demotion or losing your job yourself? Daniel only owns 7.5% so it’s not like he’s a majority that can push anything through.

Since when does the ruling class of C levels and board members feel ANY pain?

Any apologism for the "Idea men" and "Decision makers" is absurd until they start feeling the pain from THEIR bad ideas and poor decisions.

They will make a shitty zoom recording saying "I take full responsibility for cutting 20% of our yearly payroll" while signing off on their own bonus.

Wish I got to sign off on my own bonus!

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#765

Post by corndoge »

rez9x wrote: post #649
crazygringo wrote: post #596

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is completely backwards. They didn't hire "for the sake of hiring" -- they hired specifically to build up their podcasting and audiobook efforts, which were totally new products within the app. Which they thought were essential to staying competitive -- e.g. what if people start moving over to Amazon instead with its Music+Wondery+Audible, or other competitors? Now it's turned out those bets haven't been as succ…

I recently left Spotify for Apple Music, in large part because of this new development path. I don't want podcasts, audiobooks, etc mixed in with my music. I prefer separate apps. I think what bothered me more was the focus on branching into these new paths without any innovation in the music department--I'm sure there was innovation that wasn't visible to me. I'm tired of the same black and green color scheme. I don…

Buying music, downloading it and putting it into your music folder also works great! Then you can organize it, display it, order it and listen to it however you want by using a player that suits your preferences, decoupling the source of your music from the application you use to play it.

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#766

Post by m4jor »

baggachipz wrote: post #696
crazygringo wrote: post #596

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is completely backwards. They didn't hire "for the sake of hiring" -- they hired specifically to build up their podcasting and audiobook efforts, which were totally new products within the app. Which they thought were essential to staying competitive -- e.g. what if people start moving over to Amazon instead with its Music+Wondery+Audible, or other competitors? Now it's turned out those bets haven't been as succ…

> Honestly, what do you expect Spotify to do? Not spend a fortune on Joe Rogan and then lay off people.

One could argue that Joe Rogan brought in a lot of new users and thus profits.

The employees being fired worked on a failed ideas and were just a lot of expenses.

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#767

Post by FalconSensei »

Roritharr wrote: post #59
anon23432343 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was and still is a stupid decision to buy Joe Rogan. I don't get why people listen to him... He is not funny nor smart. It sometimes feels you get better value when watching morning tv shows...

Would you say that about any other type of media/culture/art you dislike? "I don't get why people like the Mona Lisa, the painting is neither original nor particularly well done" Is just as much a subjective statement. JRE is, by most released figures the top interview podcast on the planet, his interviews regularly move Charts of third party media like Book Bestseller Lists and Music Charts. There obviously is a hug…

The Mona Lisa is art, and it is a "you can like it or not" situation. A podcast that allows for spreading misinformation about vaccines can be responsible for the deaths of many

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#768

Post by golergka »

digger495 wrote: post #749
acjohnson55 wrote: post #462

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At every company I've worked at, there are things we want to do that nearly everybody think are a good idea. But we can't do them all, because we have limited capital. So we have to be very strategic. Spotify has developed a huge surface area, because they are attempting to be the one-stop shop for all things audio. The thesis is that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and that's what they're selling to…

> there are things we want to do that nearly everybody think are a good idea. They aren't a good idea. Almost always. For example, "lets put podcasts in spotify". Not a single person I know wanted podcasts in spotify.

Do you think your social circle is representative enough to use as evidence for Spotify's business decisions?

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#769

Post by Tao3300 »

jzackpete wrote: post #602

I hope they fired the person who came up with "smart shuffle" and thought tying the shuffle button to a successful network call was a good idea

So far the only playlist I'm using smart shuffle with is my Christmas one. I put in a bunch of the weird shit I want to hear, and it injects some mainstream stuff to keep the wife and kids happy. So it's doing a bad job matching my tastes, but I'm exploiting that as a feature.

Re: Spotify will reduce total headcount by approximately 17%

#770

Post by phpisthebest »

teg4n_ wrote: post #627
jaywalk wrote: post #605

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you are pretty high up at Spotify, you have literally no idea how much Joe Rogan has brought in for them. His podcast has been number one on the platform since it launched.

Personally, I cancelled my Spotify premium family plan over it. I doubt I’m the only one.

Where you the only one. no..

Are you in an extreme minority that was likely far offset by new members... yes

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