How Spotify Built a Two-Sided Marketplace Within a Subscription episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 11 MIN

How Spotify Built a Two-Sided Marketplace Within a Subscription

from Business Models Explained with Fexingo: Subscription, Marketplace, SaaS, and Service Companies · host Fexingo

In this episode of Business Models Explained, Lucas and Luna break down how Spotify evolved from a simple music-streaming subscription into a two-sided marketplace connecting artists, podcasters, and listeners. They explore Spotify's 2019 shift toward direct artist payments and podcast exclusives, the economics of its ad-supported tier versus premium subscriptions, and the tension between listener experience and creator monetisation. Using specific numbers like the 2025 milestone of 250 million premium subscribers and the 2026 rollout of Spotify's in-app audiobook marketplace, the hosts show how the company operates at the intersection of subscription revenue and platform network effects. If you've ever wondered why Spotify pushes podcasts so aggressively or how artists actually get paid, this episode gives you the structural answer. #Spotify #TwoSidedMarketplace #SubscriptionModel #StreamingEconomics #MusicIndustry #PodcastBusiness #Audiobooks #CreatorEconomy #PlatformBusiness #ArtistRoyalties #DanielEk #BusinessModel #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #DigitalMedia #AudioStreaming #MarketplaceStrategy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of Business Models Explained, Lucas and Luna break down how Spotify evolved from a simple music-streaming subscription into a two-sided marketplace connecting artists, podcasters, and listeners. They explore Spotify's 2019 shift toward direct artist payments and podcast exclusives, the economics of its ad-supported tier versus premium subscriptions, and the tension between listener experience and creator monetisation. Using specific numbers like the 2025 milestone of 250 million premium subscribers and the 2026 rollout of Spotify's in-app audiobook marketplace, the hosts show how the company operates at the intersection of subscription revenue and platform network effects. If you've ever wondered why Spotify pushes podcasts so aggressively or how artists actually get paid, this episode gives you the structural answer. #Spotify #TwoSidedMarketplace #SubscriptionModel #StreamingEconomics #MusicIndustry #PodcastBusiness #Audiobooks #CreatorEconomy #PlatformBusiness #ArtistRoyalties #DanielEk #BusinessModel #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #DigitalMedia #AudioStreaming #MarketplaceStrategy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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How Spotify Built a Two-Sided Marketplace Within a Subscription

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How long is this episode of Business Models Explained with Fexingo: Subscription, Marketplace, SaaS, and Service Companies?

This episode is 11 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 18, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In this episode of Business Models Explained, Lucas and Luna break down how Spotify evolved from a simple music-streaming subscription into a two-sided marketplace connecting artists, podcasters, and listeners. They explore Spotify's 2019 shift...

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