The music streaming platform said the feature is now available in more than 75 markets, including Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, South Korea and Switzerland.

Spotify launched the AI DJ feature in 2023. At first, it mainly offered spoken commentary between tracks while recommending music based on a user’s listening habits. Since then, the company has steadily added more interactive features.

Last year, Spotify updated the tool so users could speak with the DJ directly and ask for changes in mood, genre or style during a listening session. Users can now also request specific tracks through voice or text prompts.

The company said each new language version comes with its own DJ personality and voice.

For French listeners, the DJ is called Maïa. Spotify described the character as “Effortlessly cool and treats every listener like a friend who already has great taste.”

The German-language DJ, Ben, is described as “The kind of voice that makes listening feel intentional: warm and present, without trying too hard.”

Spotify said Alex, the Italian DJ, is “Warm and grounded: the voice that bridges the gap between knowing music and truly feeling it.”

For Brazilian Portuguese users, Dani is “Always one song ahead of the moment: eclectic and genuinely excited to share what’s next.”

The company said the feature continually builds on Spotify’s goal towards more customised recommendations inside the app.

“Since launching in 2023, DJ (beta) has helped shape a more personalised listening experience for 94 million Spotify Premium users,” Spotify said.

The DJ tool combines music suggestions with spoken commentary and draws from a user’s listening history to recommend familiar tracks, older favourites and new releases.

Spotify has also been adding other AI-based tools across the platform. These include playlist generation features that allow users to create music or podcast playlists by describing what they want to hear.

Users can access DJ from Spotify’s home page or by searching for “DJ” inside the app. Language settings can be changed through the menu within the DJ card.

The streaming service launched in Nigeria in February 2021, and since then, listening has risen year after year. In the early years, growth ran into triple digits, with average growth, led by Afrobeats, at 163.5% in 2025.

Between 2021 and 2025, Afrobeats streams in Nigeria increased by 5,022%.

Other genres also posted strong growth. Amapiano streams rose by 10,330%. Gospel and praise music grew by 5,499%. Hip-hop and rap climbed 3,020%, while R&B increased by 2,602%.

Listening in indigenous Nigerian languages is also increasing.

Within Nigeria, streams of indigenous language music grew by 554% in 2024 and by 87% in 2025. Outside Nigeria, the same category rose by 141% in 2024 and 41% in 2025.

The first song streamed in Nigeria when Spotify launched in 2021 was “到此為止” by Shiga Lin.

Over the past five years, the most-streamed artists in Nigeria on Spotify are Asake, Wizkid, Seyi Vibez, Burna Boy and Davido.

The most-streamed songs during the same period include “Remember” by Asake; “Dealer” by Ayo Maff and Fireboy DML; “Awolowo” by Fido; “Kese (Dance)” by Wizkid; “Lonely At The Top” by Asake; “Joy is Coming” by Fido; “With You (feat. Omah Lay)” by Davido and Omah Lay; “Terminator” by Asake; “MMS” by Asake and Wizkid; and “Doha” by Seyi Vibez.

Spotify says the number of Nigerian artists on the platform has increased by 158% since launch.

User activity has also expanded, with Nigerians having created more than 25 million playlists over the past five years.

In 2025 alone, listeners in Nigeria recorded more than 1.4 million play hours on Spotify. Podcast listening is also growing, with more than 59 billion total podcast hours streamed since launch.

Recent data shows that the average listener in Nigeria streams 150 different artists. The average listener age is 26.

Five years after launch, the figures show steady growth in volume, genre spread and local language listening.

This is its second U.S. increase in less than two years as the company leans on higher fees to protect profits.

The change applies to current users, with the new price kicking in on individual billing dates next month. 

Spotify said affected subscribers will be notified by email before the adjustment takes effect. New users are already being shown the updated price on the company’s website.

Investors welcomed this development as shares of the Swedish streaming group climbed almost 3% in premarket trading on Thursday, trusting that the company can push through higher prices without losing too many users.

This latest increase follows Spotify’s decision in June 2024 to lift the U.S. Premium price from $9.99 to $11.99, its first rise in more than a decade. The jump to $12.99 means American subscribers will have seen prices climb by 30% in roughly 18 months.

In a message sent to customers, Spotify explained the decision. “Occasional updates to pricing across our markets reflect the value that Spotify delivers, enabling us to continue offering the best possible experience and benefit artists.”

The company also told subscribers: “Thank you for being a valued Premium subscriber. Starting on your billing date in February, your subscription price will change from $11.99/month to $12.99/month.”

Spotify stressed that premium users who are unhappy with the new price can cancel at any time or switch to other plans available through their account settings, noting that the service stays optional.

The increase is not limited to the United States. Similar increases have been rolled out across parts of Europe, South Asia and Latin America over the past two years. This shows a similar global strategy rather than a one-off response to local conditions.

After years of losses, Spotify reported its first quarterly operating profit in late 2025. That achievement eased issues about the sustainability of its business model, but it also raised expectations. To keep that momentum, the company needs more revenue per user.

Music licensing is expensive, and costs continually increase as labels renegotiate deals. At the same time, Spotify is spending heavily to expand beyond music. 

Audiobooks are being rolled out more widely, and the platform is investing in new discovery tools and recommendation features designed to keep users engaged for longer.

Subscription fees are the most direct lever Spotify can pull. Advertising helps, but Premium subscriptions still account for the bulk of revenue. From that perspective, the latest increase looks less like a gamble and more like a necessity.

Spotify is not acting alone as Apple Music, YouTube Music and Amazon Music have all increased prices in recent years, softening the risk that users will defect purely on cost. 

For many listeners, the difference between services now comes down to habit, playlists and perceived value rather than price alone.

Still, there is little room for complacency. Consumers are facing higher prices across many digital services, and tolerance for repeated increases is not unlimited. We have seen subscription fatigue set in elsewhere, and music streaming may not be immune.

The update arrives with a set of tools that show what people listened to, how, when, and in some cases, with whom.

Wrapped Party is the main addition in Spotify Wrapped 2025. It lets up to nine people compare their habits in real time, and it produces shared results that change each time a group joins.

Seeing how the feature assigns playful labels, from “most obsessed fan” to the friend who goes heavy on news podcasts, all were generated from the group’s combined listening footprints.

Unlike the usual screenshots people share every December, this feature turns the comparison into a live session rather than a social media moment.

Spotify has also added visible play counts to the Top Songs Playlist, giving listeners a clearer sense of how often they returned to their favourite tracks. There’s an interactive Top Song Quiz, which reveals your most-played song only after you make a guess.

Wrapped Clubs is another new feature, sorting users into six listening styles. The roles inside each club vary; some people end up as leaders, others as scouts who tend to chase new releases, and some as archivists whose listening skews toward older records.

Listening Age goes a step further by framing each listener’s habits against their age group. It measures the release period of your most-played tracks and marks the five-year window where your choices sit.

Depending on your taste, it can make you seem older or younger than you are, which will likely spark its own conversations online.

The familiar sections remain, top songs, top artists, genres, and now top albums. Those who spent time on audiobooks or podcasts will get dedicated summaries too. The usual video messages from artists return, and the company is extending the idea to authors as well.

At a press briefing, Spotify’s Senior Director of Global Marketing, Matt Luhks, acknowledged the complaint levelled at last year’s edition, which leaned heavily on experimental tools. 

“We take all of that in. We use that as information, insights, [and] inspiration for how we approached Wrapped this year,” he said. 

He also added: “What our users tell us about Wrapped means a lot to us, so it was really informative in how we approached Wrapped this year. And what we tried to build was the most creative, most innovative, most engaging Wrapped ever.” 

And later, he noted, “We’re the original and, we believe, still the best.”

Spotify says the overall experience this year wasn’t created with automated systems, though it does use a large model to help explain data in more natural summaries across parts of the recap.

The company is under pressure as competing platforms try to build year-end summaries too. Apple Replay, Amazon Delivered, and YouTube’s Recap all went out earlier, but Spotify still positions Wrapped as the benchmark for these features.

Luhks agreed with that view, saying: “Everyone seems to have their own version of Wrapped. Now, there’s a lot of reviews and replays and rewinds out there, but we believe that Wrapped still sets the bar for these year-end recaps.”

Alongside the consumer version, Spotify has confirmed the top global names for the year. Bad Bunny claimed both the top song and album, “The Joe Rogan Experience” led the podcast category, and Rebeca Yarros topped the audiobook charts.

The Swedish streaming service has already implemented price hikes in more than 150 markets globally, including Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. 

In August, Spotify raised its premium individual plan from €10.99 to €11.99 in these regions. The upcoming U.S. adjustment aims to bolster revenue and respond to pressure from investors and record labels.

JPMorgan analysts have estimated that even a $1 increase per month could add around $500 million to Spotify’s annual revenue. Record labels argue that streaming fees have lagged behind inflation and remain lower than comparable services such as Netflix, making price hikes necessary for fairer compensation and long-term sustainability.

Spotify’s leadership change adds another aspect to this transition. Founder Daniel Ek recently stepped down as CEO, and the company has appointed two co-CEOs: Gustav Söderström, the current Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, the Chief Business Officer. 

The move is seen by analysts as a strategic recalibration, combining product innovation with stronger business growth priorities.

The streaming giant remains the world’s largest music service, with over 600 million monthly active users. Its preeminence, coupled with subscriber loyalty, gives Spotify confidence that the U.S. price rise will be absorbed without significant churn. 

Reports also suggest that competitors like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music may follow with similar increases as the market adjusts to higher subscription norms.

The feature enables listeners to engage better with their playlists and favourite artists, ensuring a detailed look at how their tastes changes week after week.

Unlike year-end roundups, Listening Stats updates every 24 hours. Users can see their most played songs and artists from the past month and get new playlists automatically generated from their recent listening activity. 

Spotify says this will make music discovery easier and more personal, reflecting what each listener is currently drawn to.

Every week, the feature also spotlights a key moment, it could be a newly discovered track, a major listening milestone, or data that captures a user’s unique listening identity. 

Listeners can share these moments directly from the app across social platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, encouraging friendly comparisons and musical conversations.

Explaining the intention behind the update, the company said, “At Spotify, we’re always finding new ways to bring you closer to the music that moves you, turning sound into something personal.”

Available to both Free and Premium users in over 60 markets, Listening Stats joins Spotify’s lineup of personalised tools such as daylist, Release Radar, and Discover Weekly. It also serves as an early warm-up for Wrapped, the popular end-of-year feature that compiles each user’s music story into a yearly summary.

To access the new feature, users can open their Spotify profile, select “Listening Stats,” and view their top artists, songs, and listening insights. A single tap on “Share” lets them post weekly stats or highlights directly from the app.

The rollout, which is currently open to Alexa+ Early Access participants across all subscription plans, enhances how the company wants people to discover and interact with music.

Unlike the traditional Alexa that responded to straightforward commands, Alexa+ brings a more conversational and intelligent approach. 

It’s built to talk with users like a knowledgeable music companion, someone who not only takes requests but also understands curiosity. With Alexa+, users can dig into the details of songs, artists, or even eras of music. 

You can ask who influenced a particular artist, what a song means, or find that elusive track you only remember from a movie scene.

Amazon said it’s already seeing strong engagement from users testing the feature. Listeners who used Alexa+ explored three times more songs than those using the old version, and users asking for recommendations listened to nearly 70% more music. 

Those numbers show that people are no longer just pressing play; they’re conversing with their music app.

The feature’s conversational depth is what sets it apart. A user might say, “Play pop songs from the ’90s including Madonna, but skip the boy bands,” or “Make a playlist of 2010s hits that keep me moving fast, starting with a track from Nicki Minaj.” 

Alexa+ then builds dynamic playlists based on tone, tempo, and personal taste. You can even request something as niche as, “Create a music playlist that sounds like a Parisian café and only include songs in French.”

Beyond playlist creation, Alexa+ acts as a musical researcher in your pocket. It can explain the story behind lyrics, trace the origins of samples, or connect artists by genre or geography. 

Asking, “What’s the story behind the lyrics to Hotel California?” or “Recommend some artists from the London punk scene in the ’70s” now leads to detailed, conversational responses rather than robotic answers.

Spotify recently integrated similar conversational features, and Amazon’s move places Alexa+ as a competitor capable of deep engagement and contextual understanding.

The rollout also reveals Amazon’s larger investment in embedding intelligent systems across its ecosystem. Earlier this year, Alexa+ was unveiled as part of Amazon’s broader plan to bring “agent-level” assistance to everyday use, handling not just music, but tasks such as restaurant bookings and grocery orders.

For now, the new feature remains limited to early access users, but a wider release is expected soon. To try it, Amazon Music users can simply update their app, tap the “a” button in the lower right corner, and start talking.

Amazon says, “Alexa+ transforms the way we discover music by offering a more intuitive, conversation-based approach, turning what used to be a basic search function into an interactive discussion guided by your own curiosity.”

The Swedish streaming platform expects operating income of €620 million for the fourth quarter, slightly above market expectations of €618.6 million, and revenue of around €4.5 billion. 

Spotify forecasts total monthly active users (MAUs) to hit 745 million by year-end, ahead of the estimated 737.3 million.

The upbeat outlook follows a great third quarter that saw double-digit growth across key metrics. Premium subscribers climbed 12% year-on-year to 281 million, while total monthly active users rose 11% to 713 million. Revenue increased 7% to €4.27 billion, exceeding analyst expectations of €4.23 billion.

Gross margin improved to 31.6%, with operating income reaching €582 million. CEO Daniel Ek attributed the progress to better execution and a clear focus on long-term growth. 

“The business is healthy. We’re shipping faster than ever. And we have the tools we need – pricing, product innovation, operational leverage, and eventually the ads turnaround – to deliver both revenue growth and profit expansion,” Ek said. 

“It all comes back to user fundamentals and that’s where we are: 700 million users who keep coming back, engagement at all-time highs. We’re building Spotify for the long-term.”

Spotify has been repositioning its business to improve profitability after years of aggressive spending on marketing and content acquisition. The company recently increased the price of its premium individual plan and streamlined operational costs to strengthen its bottom line.

At the same time, Spotify has rolled out several updates aimed at enhancing user engagement. The long-awaited lossless audio feature, part of the new “Supremium” tier, launched in October, offering high-fidelity sound that rivals Apple Music’s and Amazon’s premium options. 

The tier also introduces advanced playlist tools, AI-powered recommendations, and wider audiobook access.

The audiobook segment is one of Spotify’s fastest-growing categories. Listeners in this segment jumped 36% year-on-year, while total listening hours grew 37%. The company has continued to expand its audiobook catalogue globally, making it a major complement to its music and podcast offerings.

Aiming to tap into younger audiences and enhance discovery, Spotify also partnered with OpenAI in October. The collaboration allows users to link their Spotify accounts within ChatGPT and request music or podcast recommendations through conversational prompts, an integration designed to increase engagement and retention.

Beyond product expansion, Spotify is entering a new phase of leadership. Starting January 2026, Daniel Ek will transition to Executive Chairman as the company adopts a co-CEO structure led by Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström. 

The restructuring aims to enhance innovation and simplify decision-making as Spotify pushes deeper into audiobooks, AI, and next-generation audio streaming.

With user growth speeding up and operational discipline improving, Spotify appears to be turning a corner from years of narrow margins to sustained profitability, preparing for a strong close to 2025 and a more balanced strategy.

Daniel Ek, who has led the music streaming giant since its creation in 2006, will transition into the role of Executive Chairman.

The company confirmed that Gustav Söderström, currently Chief Product and Technology Officer, and Alex Norström, Chief Business Officer, will take over as co-CEOs starting 1 January 2026. 

Both have been important to Spotify’s growth over the past decade, having already shared leadership responsibilities since 2023 when they were appointed co-presidents.

Ek said in a statement: “Over the last few years, I’ve turned over a large part of the day-to-day management and strategic direction of Spotify to Alex and Gustav—who have shaped the company from our earliest days and are now more than ready to guide our next phase. This change simply matches titles to how we already operate. In my role as Executive Chairman, I will focus on the long arc of the company and keep the Board and our co-CEOs deeply connected through my engagement.”

He later added on X: “I’ve spent twenty years, nearly my entire adult life, as Spotify’s CEO. I’m ready to go from a player to a coach.”

The timing of this change reveals a period of strong performance for Spotify. Over the past year, its stock price has almost doubled, pushing its market capitalisation to around $150 billion. The platform now counts over 700 million monthly active users, including 276 million paying subscribers, while maintaining profitability for more than a year following restructuring efforts.

For Norström and Söderström, the challenge ahead is to expand beyond music into a wider audio ecosystem covering podcasts, audiobooks, and live audio, while also managing industry concerns about artificial intelligence in music production. 

The company recently removed 75 million spam-like or AI-generated tracks and has begun introducing AI disclosures in music credits to improve transparency.

Board member Woody Marshall expressed confidence in the incoming leadership: “We’ve had some time watching them practice at full speed and they are ready for the game.”

Ek, meanwhile, is expected to devote more attention to his wider business ventures. He co-founded preventive health startup Neko Health, which recently raised $260 million at a $1.8 billion valuation, and runs Prima Materia, an investment firm targeting advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and defence. 

His backing of Helsing, a European defence technology firm, has drawn backlash from some artists, but Ek has defended the investment as necessary for Europe’s security. “When I invested in Helsing, it was something that the VC world couldn’t do or didn’t want to do. But for me, it was really important to help protect Europe,” he explained.

Daniel Ek leaves the role of Spotify CEO on a high note. The company’s global influence is unmatched, offering 100 million songs, paying out $10 billion to rights holders in 2024 alone, and bolstering an industry once crippled by piracy. 

The company labels these updates as “Pick & Play,” “Search & Play,” and “Share & Play.” With Pick & Play, users simply hit play on the app to enjoy the exact song they want. Search & Play lets them type in a track and start listening immediately. 

Share & Play connects social media activity to Spotify, enabling seamless listening from Instagram Stories or Notes. Previously, free users could only shuffle songs with limited skips on mobile devices.

Spotify says these features will roll out globally, although certain restrictions will remain for free accounts that Premium users do not face. 

Other Premium-only functions, such as lossless streaming, AI-generated playlists, and Mix, will remain behind the paywall. Features like Messages and the personalised playlist “daylist” will continue to serve both free and paying users.

This comes as Spotify seeks to grow its ad revenue. CEO Daniel Ek recently told investors the company had been “moving too slowly” on monetising free users. 

Spotify aims for ads to account for 20% of total revenue but had reached only 11% by June. Making the free experience more appealing, Spotify could boost engagement and, in turn, expose more users to advertising.

Free users currently make up the majority of Spotify’s base. In the most recent quarter, the platform had 696 million monthly active users, 433 million of whom were free, ad-supported listeners, compared with 276 million Premium subscribers.

Spotify is also adding creative options for free users. They can personalise playlist covers with custom images, colours, text, and graphics, a feature now available in 128 markets worldwide. 

Daylist, a daily mood playlist, updates automatically to match listening habits throughout the day, helping users discover music tailored to specific times or moods.

For discovery, free users can explore playlists like Discover Weekly, which delivers a fresh mix of recommended tracks every week, and Release Radar, which updates with the latest releases from followed artists. 

Lyrics integration lets listeners follow along in real time, while sharing capabilities let users send songs and lyrics directly to friends on Instagram, WhatsApp, and more.

Spotify’s global update is an expansion of its free tier, offering more control, personalisation, and social connectivity. Free users will now be active participants in music discovery and sharing.