Spotify has reportedly pushed for a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Yet, a Spotify co-founder denies that IPO plans even exist. WTF?
To prepare for their long-awaited IPO, Swedish streamer Spotify opened an office in New York City. Co-founder Martin Lorenzton also stepped down as Chairman, allowing CEO Daniel Ek to take his place. The streamer also locked down long-term deals with UMG and Merlin which includes a two-week premium paywall for select albums.
Investors don’t like scary lawsuits. So Spotify recently settled a $200 million class-action lawsuit filed by songwriters.
Having received a $13 billion valuation several weeks ago, the company may aim for a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Yet, have we misinterpreted these recent moves? A co-founder almost likened IPO rumors as ‘fake news’.
In an interview with Sveriges Radio, co-founder Martin Lorenzton denied that the company had any plans for an IPO.
“There are no plans to do it, even though the media enjoys writing about it.”
Saying that all IPO rumors are “completely made up,” Lorenzton elaborated,
“We don’t need any money. We already have enough and we are not looking for more. There is no IPO on the horizon.”
Nearly likening IPO stories to ‘fake news,’ Lorenzton continued,
“I am not saying it is fake news, but half of what the media writes is usually correct and half is usually not.”
Lorenzton’s comments contradict what other sources have told the press, as well as the company’s latest moves. Last month, Spotify reportedly contacted and started working with investment banks Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Allen & Co. They reportedly want to move forward with a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange. In fact, a source within the company told Reuters that the IPO will likely happen “within twelve months from now.”
In a sign of internal struggle within the company, Spotify officially dismissed Lorenzton’s comments. The streamer downplayed Lorenzton’s authority to speak on behalf of the company in a statement.
“Martin is our co-founder and a board member, but not a spokesperson for the company. Spotify hasn’t confirmed any definitive plans to go public. It remains an option for us, as we consider the right thing to do for our company, our people and our investors”
In the statement, the streamer didn’t confirm, nor did they deny, their rumored IPO plans.
As Spotify prepares for their long-awaited IPO, it has yet to deal with a worrying question from investors: how, if ever, will it make money? Spotify’s annual losses reportedly doubled to between $333.8 million to $444.5 million. They have also yet to post a profit after ten years in operation.
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SPOTIFY IS THE SAME FAGGOTRY SHIT AS THIS SITE THEY PAY LIKE NOTHING TO ARTISTS FUCK THEM AND USE OTHER SERVICES THEY PAY MUCH BETTER THAN GAYFI
In general terms.. an I-P-O is an engineered money machine.. in some ways it doesn’t matter whether the business is making money or losing it hand over fist.. it’s a perception thing.. and having a large chunk of market share is attractive to the financial
sectors.
If you want to retire as a billionaire and have a tech company
enjoying bubble valuations then it’s an opportunity to be
embraced.
Spotify is really an internet tech company.. the fact that they
distribute music is a by-product..
We all know there ain’t that much money to be made in the recorded music business anymore.. but there is money to be made in Internet tech companies that have significant global
market share.
Why the fuck do you keep saying “lawsuit against songwriters” when it’s the songwriters who were suing Spotify. Is English your 2nd language or are you generally stupid?