News about Daniel Ek

Inside secret billionaire retreats that are SO exclusive even the the CEO of Goldman Sachs is a mere 'third tier guest' and if you have to ask, you're not invited

www.dailymail.co.uk, April 21, 2024
Hidden away in the Colorado Rockies, a Sicilian resort, or a Utah ski lodge are some of the most exclusive events a billionaire can hope to attend. Attendee lists are so all-star that even the Goldman Sacks chief executive is a 'third-tier guest' and if you have to ask, you're not invited. Between discussions topics like 'can you marry a robot?' quizzes on tech trends and performances by celebrities, deals are made and executives are hired. More and more of these elite getaways are popping up as guests crave time away from the spotlight with few cameras and everything is off the record.

This year, the tech workforce saw a bloodbath: Over 260,000 workers were laid off as a result of industry struggles to save money

www.dailymail.co.uk, December 28, 2023
Alphabet, Amazon, Facebook chief Meta and Microsoft, among the industry's most notable firms, have made significant layoffs. Since January, a total of 261,847 workers have been fired, up more than 50% from the 164,969 who were allowed to go in 2022. When 89,579 people lost their jobs in January, the layoffs reached their high point.

As the tech industry's bloodbath continues, Spotify axes 1,500 workers

www.dailymail.co.uk, December 4, 2023
Taylor Swift, the country's most listened to musician, has revealed that it would lay off 17% of its employees as a result of rising costs. This is the third series of lay-offs that the company has reported so far this year. Daniel Ek, the Spotify chief executive, said he made the "difficult" decision as growth slows''dramatically'.

DANIEL EK: I started Spotify in the United Kingdom 15 years ago. But I fear I couldn't do that today because Apple and Google are barriers to innovation

www.dailymail.co.uk, October 20, 2023
DANIEL EK: I am often asked about our 'journey', which has been a fascinating one, as the founder of Spotify, a company that was established in the United Kingdom 15 years ago this month. When we first opened, I remember sitting in our makeshift London office, and the first reports showed that listeners could not get enough of the British artist Coldplay. The band were the first UK artists to reach over 1 million monthly streams just months after. The love for British exports has only grown in today. Ed Sheeran (Shape of You) and Lewis Capaldi (Someone You Loved) are two of the top-streamed tracks in the world, with a total of 6 billion streams between them. Since Spotify's inception, the digital world has also changed. On the other hand, it's been an incredibly positive force. Although there are more start-ups than ever, the massive players are still playing more. This increase in competition is good for everybody and acts as a catalyst for creativity, pressuring every business to consistently improve our services and sharpen our edge, all in the interests of customers. However, a fundamental shift has changed the digital landscape: wealth has remained concentrated in the hands of a select few, particularly in the mobile, which is the primary way most people use the internet.

According to Spotify's CEO, Britain could become a major tech hub if it reins in giants

www.dailymail.co.uk, October 20, 2023
The Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Bill, according to Daniel Ek, the Swedish entrepreneur of Spotify, will'redefine how companies can survive, develop, and prosper on the internet'. The law, which is now in Parliament, aims to encourage more competition in online tech by reducing the influence of companies like Apple and Google. The bill, the billionaire, 40, said, "The bill guarantees that Apple and others like it will have to compete more effectively for consumers' money." The issue, according to him, is that these companies developed and maintain the operating systems within which other competitors sell their products.

After Sussexes made only 12 podcasts in two-and-a-half years, Meghan and Meghan's £18 million podcast agreement didn't work because it didn't'make customers happy,' according to the Spotify boss

www.dailymail.co.uk, October 2, 2023
After the Sussexes launched only 12 podcasts in two-and-a-half years, the CEO of Spotify has suggested that Harry and Meghan's £18 million podcast deal fell apart because it failed to make consumers happy. Daniel Ek (left), who was making a rare media appearance just four months after it was announced that the Archetypes podcast would not be renewed for a second season, admitted that some of Spotify's latest innovations haven't paid off. In June, Meghan's multi-million-pound Spotify contract (speaking on podcast, right, and inset) was scrapped. The decision between the streaming giant and Archewell Audio - the Duchess and Prince Harry's company, was officially stated to be a'mutual' one.

Spotify is increasing the price in order to raise funds

www.dailymail.co.uk, July 25, 2023
Spotify has raised its prices for the first time in the United Kingdom in an attempt to raise revenues. Up from £9.99, the Swedish music streaming company will charge £10.99 per month for its premium package.

Spotify will outsource 200 jobs from its podcast market, according to the company

www.dailymail.co.uk, June 6, 2023
Following significant investment in shows starring celebrities such as Meghan Markle and Joe Rogan, Spotify has revealed that it will withdraw 200 jobs from its podcasts market. The Swedish media behemoth said it was reorganising and slimming down its internal podcast services, with redundancies amounting to 21% of its total workforce. However, it comes just five months after the corporation laid off 600 workers and announced the resignation of Dawn Ostroff, the executive who helped shape the company's podcast company. In recent years, Spotify had invested heavily to expand its podcast service, wishing that the higher engagement levels offered by the format would bring in more advertisers. However, it resulted in a rise in operating expenditures, which increased at twice the rate of last year's revenues. Rising interest rates and high inflation have also affected the company, which has resulted in businesses reducing spending on advertising. Daniel Ek (right), the company's chief executive, said in January that he was 'little carried away' after the company's loss was due to a slew of expensive podcast deals.

After being chastised for blocking material, LinkedIn is losing 700 employees around China

www.dailymail.co.uk, May 10, 2023
LinkedIn claims to be layoff more than 700 workers and halting its China jobs app. After Beijing cracked down on the internet market, the Chinese version of LinkedIn's website will be decommissioned. LinkedIn blamed'shifts in customer behavior and slower sales growth' for the layoffs, which the company revealed in a blog post written by CEO Ryan Roslansky, right.

In a big cost-saving initiative, Google will reduce dependence on STAPLERS and laptop replacements for employees

www.dailymail.co.uk, April 4, 2023
Ruth Porat, Google's finance boss, has revealed in a company-wide email that the tech giant is going to eliminate employee services to save money. The Company's target for 2023 is to 'deliver long-term savings by increased flexibility and efficiency.' Google is cutting back on fitness classes, staplers, tape, and tape, and will minimize how often its employees get their laptops replaced. Following the layoff of 12,000 workers in January, 12,000 jobs were laid off.

Amazon has reported that there have been another 9,000 jobs laid off

www.dailymail.co.uk, March 20, 2023
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo sent to employees on Monday that the company intends to eliminate 9,000 jobs in the next two weeks. The layoffs would be the company's second largest round of layoffs in history, adding to the 18,000 employees that the firm announced in January. During the pandemic, however, the company's workforce doubled, despite a recruiting surge in virtually every industry. According to Jassy, the second phase of the company's annual planning process, which determined which parts of the company to eliminate, ended this month, leading to the layoffs. Amazon confirmed that in some critical markets, the company would continue to recruit.

In January, employers in the United States cut 102,000 workers, a 44 percent increase from the same year a year ago

www.dailymail.co.uk, February 2, 2023
According to new reports, hundreds of thousands of employees are expected to leave work with US companies, which includes the most job layoffs since 2020. Gray & Christmas, Inc., a challenger, revealed that there were 102,943 job layoffs in January, more than twice than those reported in December and 440 percent more than the same time last year. The technology industry has seen the most significant layoffs, accounting for 41% of planned cuts, though retail shops and financial institutions will see significant changes.

PayPal is the newest in the tech giants to slash 2,000 jobs - around 7% of its workforce

www.dailymail.co.uk, February 1, 2023
PayPal predicted the layoffs would last several weeks, with some of its groups affecting more people than others. The company did not give any further details. Venmo, Xoom, and Honey, among other products, are owned by PayPal. The company, which is headquartered in San Jose, California, is the newest in the technology industry to reduce headcount. Thousands of layoffs were reported by Google, Microsoft, and Salesforce during the month of January alone.

Spotify boss admits he got a 'little carried away' on podcast spending binge

www.dailymail.co.uk, January 31, 2023
Daniel Ek, the Swedish firm's CEO, said, "with hindsight..." After telling analysts that the company's success had been affected by major investments, I overinvested. In recent years, the Swedish company has invested a fortune on podcasts, including an estimated $18 million (£15 million) three-year contract with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (left). Last year, Meghan's podcast, Archetypes, premiered, while Harry appeared in a 'holiday special'. Joe Rogan, a well-paid podcaster who was paid $200 million (£162 million) as part of an exclusive multi-year contract in 2020, was by far the most lucrative contract.

Harry and Meghan's podcast host has resigned, according to the Spotify boss

www.dailymail.co.uk, January 23, 2023
Dawn Ostroff, the chief content officer behind the streaming company's move to podcasts, was the driving factor behind the company's shift to podcasts. In a deal that was supposed to be worth £20 million, she secured the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's (pictured) Archetypes series, but chief executive Daniel Ek yesterday revealed that Ostroff has 'decided to leave Spotify', despite the fact that 600 jobs were laid off and a leadership shake-up.'

Elon Musk's review of Apple's App store and for giving it a 'every advantage.'

www.dailymail.co.uk, November 30, 2022
Daniel Ek, 39, has reignited his rivalry with the multinational company four years after submitting an antitrust complaint to the European Commission. Apple's chairman said it was a "bully" that is'stifling innovation and hurting customers' by insisting that customers be protected against their "self-interest" by compelled to pay through the app. 'Apple acts in self-interest, but the Spotify CEO claims that he does not seem to worry about the legislation or courts.' Elon Musk, 51, was chastised for the 30 percent surcharge for in-app purchases and for removing'most' of the company's advertisements. Musk also posted a now-deleted meme, implying that he'd rather "go to war" with Apple than paying a 30 percent fee. Apple revealed earlier this week that the commissions are used to finance app evaluations to ensure customers are not exposed to scam.

Kanye West's brand, Footlocker, has been the new big brand to have Kanye West out

www.dailymail.co.uk, October 26, 2022
Foot Locker, a footwear chain, has become the first company to break relations with Kanye West (left) following the backlash against his latest anti-Semitic comments made by the shoe maker. According to wealth tracker Forbes, Ye has recently lost a string of lucrative, high-profile partnerships, which may result in his substantial fortune falling to just $400 million. However, Spotify confirmed that it would not delete the rapper's music unless his company asked for it. Recent anti-Semitic remarks made by the rapper are 'just awful comments,' and would have warranted removal from Spotify for violating its policies if they had been on a podcast or recording, Spotify chief Daniel Ek (right) said, but pointed out Ye's music does not carry such messages

Kanye West will be the latest big brand to drop him, but Spotify will not pull his music

www.dailymail.co.uk, October 26, 2022
Foot Locker, a footwear store, has been the first company to break with Kanye West (left), despite the backlash against his latest anti-Semitic remarks made against him. According to wealth tracker Forbes, Ye has recently lost out on a string of lucrative, high profile partnerships, which could result in his considerable fortune of over $2 billion falling to just $400 million. Spotify said it would not delete the rapper's music unless his label requested it. Recent anti-Semitic remarks made by the rapper are 'just awful comments,' and would have warranted removal from Spotify for violating its policies if they had been on a podcast or recording, Spotify chief Daniel Ek (right) said, but pointed out Ye's music does not carry such messages

In Como's becoming part-owner, Thierry Henry joins former Arsenal colleague Cesc Fabregas

www.dailymail.co.uk, August 29, 2022
Since joining Como as a minority stakeholder, Thierry Henry has become the latest big name to join forces with Serie B. Since hanging up his boots in 2014, the Arsenal legend has been a fixture in football, having played both Montreal and Monaco as well as serving as Roberto Martinez's No. 2 in Belgium, a position he still holds. He has worked as a pundit for Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Amazon Prime in France, and was most prominent endorser of Spotify founder Daniel Ek's efforts to buy Arsenal from new owner Stan Kroenke.

A Decade Under Spotify's Streaming Influence

www.mtv.com, February 24, 2022
Welcome to New Retro Week, a celebration of the best artists, hits, and cultural events that made 2012 a seminal year in pop. These essays illustrate how today's blueprint was laid a decade ago and MTV News is looking forward to see what lies ahead: These essays show how today's blueprint was created a decade ago. We've arrived at our time machine. When Spotify first landed in the United States in the summer of 2011, it ignited a flurry of excitement. In headlines announcing its launch, the words "finally" and "at last" were used. An NPR analyst explained why the moment marked a turning point in the digital music world, not by song: Spotify's "thoroughly catalog of music that can be streamed, incorporated into playlists, and accessible from any computer with an Internet connection" was on display.