We didn't solve piracy by fighting it. We solved it by making the legal option better than the illegal one.

innovationstrategyDaniel Ek, Spotify CEO, interview 2019

I retired at 23 and was miserable. Turns out, having nothing to do is the worst thing that can happen to someone who loves building things.

entrepreneurshippurposeDaniel Ek on his early retirement, podcast 2020

The record labels told us to our faces that streaming would never work. Then piracy nearly killed them. Then they came back and said okay, let's talk.

persistencemusic-industryDaniel Ek on early label negotiations, 2018

Spotify Wrapped is the most effective marketing campaign in tech and we didn't even plan it that way. People just love sharing their data when you make it feel personal.

marketingdataCommentary on Spotify Wrapped virality, 2023

We've paid over $40 billion to rights holders. If artists aren't getting paid, the question isn't about Spotify — it's about the contracts between artists and their labels.

music-industryartistsDaniel Ek, responding to artist payment criticism, 2023

Audio will be bigger than video. Not everyone can watch a screen all day, but everyone can listen. We're building for ears, and ears are always available.

visionaudioDaniel Ek, investor day 2022
Spotify Quotes | Netfigo