Hello. Happy Friday. It’s time for issue #199. The one before the big one.

Not long after I hit send on Friday’s issue news hit the wires that Spotify announced a new multi-year deal with comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the new deal and reported that Rogan would receive a $250 million contract over its multi-year term, according to sources.

In a notable change from Rogan’s previous deal, “The Joe Rogan Experience” will no longer be exclusive to Spotify.

JRE remains podcasting’s king, consistently ranking as the most-listened-to podcast globally and our users have ranked the show as Spotify’s Wrapped top podcast each year since 2020," the Stockholm-based company said following the announcement.

I was always under the assumption this deal would be signed. Rogan isn’t going to find a better platform for his show, and Spotify wasn’t about to let a podcast superstar slip through their fingers.

Far too many media outlets highlighted how ‘controversial’ Rogan has been in the past, noting various guests and topics discussed on the show.

Nonsense. The freedom to have a conversation - regardless of how you feel about the topic - should be embraced.

Have an opinion. Choose to listen, or not listen. Cancel your subscription if you’re upset. But don’t try to impede the free flow of ideas and expression.

I’m sure Neil Young isn’t pleased. I have been wrong about how long he’d keep his music off Spotify, but I respect his decision - even if I think it’s silly.

Beyond that ….

Have you seen the Spotify stock lately? Wow.

The stock boost comes just as Spotify released Q4 earnings: Ended 2023 with 236 million paying premium subscribers, up from 226 million as of the end of September and compared with its forecast that it would reach 235 million in the latest period.

Spotify also logged 603 million monthly active users, a 23% jump from the 489 million monthly average users at the end of 2022 and Spotify's second-largest fourth quarter add in the company's history.

It also looks like we can expect more changes within Spotify’s business, including shutdowns of certain features.

MusicAlly noted: “Actually, even killing things that sometimes sort of works is a healthy thing to refocus and reenergize people on the things that really drive lots of value,” said Ek.

“I think you’re going to see us be more diligent in shutting down things that perhaps have sort of worked but may not work as well going forward into the future. And you’re going to see that all across the company in a pretty big way.”

They already killed off Stations. Not sure how much worse it can be.

Have a great day!

★ SPOTlight★

⭐️ Spotify Q4 Earnings Report, Subscriber Update

“We’re going to continue to be more resourceful with the resources we have. That’s just the new modus operandi,” Ek said.

⭐️ ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ Is Back on Apple Podcasts Following More Than Three-Year Absence After Spotify Gives Up Exclusivity

“JRE” had left Apple Podcasts in September 2020 because of Spotify’s previous exclusive deal with the comedian and podcaster. On Thursday, Rogan, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), wrote that “The Joe Rogan Experience” is now “officially back on @apple We should be back on @youtube with full episodes in the coming weeks.”

⭐️ Spotify paid more than $9bn to the music industry in 2023

“Spotify paid the music industry more money than ever in 2023: $9B+,” announced the company in a statement this morning. “That figure has nearly tripled over the past six years and represents a big part of the $48B+ Spotify has paid since its founding.”

⭐️ Spotify redesign sees TikTok-style scrolling feature for songs and podcasts

Spotify is expanding its TikTok-style song and podcast feeds to more places on its app. The update is built around dynamic artwork and video, allowing users to scroll through an endless reel of condensed tracks and audio. Song previews also feature hashtags that enable users to jump between feeds in different genres, from the relatively straightforward (pop and rock) to the esoteric (cinnamon).

🗣 Podcasts 🗣

• Actually, it’s good for Spotify that Joe Rogan’s podcast is no longer exclusive

▶️ Playlists ▶️

• Spotify Daylists have taken over my Instagram stories – and they’re coming for yours, too

• Joe Rogan Shares 15-Hour Green Room Spotify Playlist With Deal Renewal

🎧 Streams 🎧

• Harry Styles Reaches A Very Rare And Very Special Milestone On Spotify

• Ariana Grande Celebrates 14 Songs in Spotify's Billions Club

🎼 Spotify 4 Artists 🎼

• Spotify For Artists brings back the last 24 hours filter

💡 Tips & Tricks 💡

• 7 Spotify tricks for getting out of a music funk

🖌 Design 🖌

• Exploring the Animation Landscape of 2023 Wrapped

💰 Stock 💰

• Spotify Stock Gains on Subscriber Growth and Narrower-Than-Expected Loss

• Spotify reports record growth in a year of layoffs and price hikes

⚡️ Ek Notes ⚡️

• Spotify CEO Daniel Ek tells investors Apple’s DMA rules are a ‘farce,’ but says there are ‘future upsides’ too

• Spotify CEO teases plans for 'killing things that sort of work'

🔥 News 🔥

• Spotify tattoos: What you should know about the body art fad

• The 15 Best Songs for Boosting Productivity, According to Spotify Data

• YouTube has less than half as many paid subscribers as Spotify, and only itself to blame

• The Year We Tracked Everything: How Spotify Induced a ‘Wrapped’ Frenzy

🎵 New Adventures 🎵

A Clue Boz Scaggs

She's Got Soul Nick Lowe

A Little Rain - 2023 Remaster Tom Waits

In Need of Repair Band of Horses

Too Late Now Shirley Bassey

Foolish Heart Steve Perry

Windfall - 2015 Remaster Son Volt

Endgame Rogue Wave

Lonely Tonight - 2005 Remaster The Power Station

Wayne Kramer, Co-Founder Of Revolutionary Rock Band The MC5, Dead At 75

From the late 1960s to early 1970s, no band was closer to the revolutionary spirit of the time than the MC5, which featured Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith on guitars, Rob Tyner on vocals, Michael Davis on bass and Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson on drums. Managed for a time by White Panther co-founder John Sinclair, they were known for their raw, uncompromising music, which they envisioned as the soundtrack for the uprising to come.

Ramblin' Rose MC5

Shakin' Street MC5

*Wayne Kramer performing with MC5. Leni Sinclair/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty

📧 Get in touch 📧

If you have a question, idea, request, or simply a desire to chat about Spotify, please email me at jeff.spotifynewsletter@gmail.com.

😀 Have a Nice Weekend! 😀