Spotify layoffs

The short version

• Biggest round: Dec 2023, 1,500 jobs, about 17% of staff.
• None of these cuts was publicly blamed on AI.
• That is the 4th largest total among the 43 Media & Streaming employers we track.
• We track 19 employers in Sweden with layoffs since 2022.

Hiring elsewhere in Media & Streaming

Every round, newest first

1. Dec 2023−1,500(17% of workforce)

   Third cut of 2023, about 17% of staff (roughly 1,500 per CNBC); CEO Daniel Ek wrote that the cost structure was still too big after expanding the team in 2020 and 2021.

   Source: Company letter

2. Jun 2023−200(2% of workforce)

   Spotify laid off 200 people in its podcast unit and merged the Parcast and Gimlet studios.

   Source: CNN

3. Jan 2023−600(6% of workforce)

   First of three cuts in 2023.

   Source: Company letter

Common questions about Spotify

How many people has Spotify laid off?

We have tracked 3 rounds of cuts at Spotify since Jan 2023. The rounds with a stated headcount add up to 2,300 jobs.

When was the latest Spotify layoff?

Dec 2023: 1,500 jobs, about 17% of staff. Third cut of 2023, about 17% of staff (roughly 1,500 per CNBC); CEO Daniel Ek wrote that the cost structure was still too big after expanding the team in 2020 and 2021.

Did Spotify blame AI for its layoffs?

No. None of the 3 rounds we track was publicly tied to AI by Spotify or in credible reporting.

Is Spotify hiring right now?

Yes. Spotify's own careers page lists 89 open roles, most of them in Platform and Experience. We read the list every day and drop roles once they close.