Spotify's Q3 results: Exclusive podcasts had notable traction in Latin America

Spotify's premium subscribers hit 172 million, just beating analysts' expectations of 171.7 million

Photo: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo

27.Oct.2021 08:46 BRT

Total monthly active users rose 19% to 381 million;
Spotify currently has 3.2 million podcasts on its platform, up from 2.9 million at the end of the second quarter;
The company reported a net profit of 2 million euros compared with a loss of 101 million euros a year earlier.

Spotify beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter revenue on Wednesday, as the music streaming company reported a 19% jump in paid subscribers for its premium service driven by demand in Europe and North America.

The streaming giant reported it released 76 new originals and exclusive podcasts, with notable traction in India and Latin America where “originals have been helpful in stimulating new user acquisition.”

Top performing shows in these markets include: Mythpat (India), Mano a Mano (Brazil), Paciente 63 (Caso 63 adaptation in Brazil), and Virus 2062 (Caso 63 adaptation in India).

Premium subscribers, which account for most of the company’s revenue, hit 172 million, just beating analysts’ expectations of 171.7 million.

Total monthly active users rose 19% to 381 million.

Spotify earns from subscriptions and by showing ads to non-paying members. Revenue from ads, which fell at the height of the pandemic, jumped 75% to 323 million euros ($376 million), and the company is planning to hire hundreds of staff to further boost advertising sales.

Total revenue rose 27% to 2.50 billion euros, beating the 2.45 billion expected by analysts, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

About 40% of Spotify‘s premium subscribers are based in Europe and 29% in the United States.

The company has also been investing heavily in its podcast business to rival that of Apple and in April launched a paid subscription platform for podcasters in the United States.

Spotify currently has 3.2 million podcasts on its platform, up from 2.9 million at the end of the second quarter.

“While we have been relentless in our pursuit of being the world’s largest audio platform, it’s still early days and we are just getting started,” Chief Executive Daniel Ek said in a statement.

The top end of the company’s current quarter forecast for revenue and premium subscribers also surpassed estimates.

Spotify forecast fourth-quarter revenue of 2.54-2.68 billion euros, and 177-181 million premium subscribers. Analysts on average are expecting revenue of 2.62 billion euros and 180 million subscribers.

The company reported a net profit of 2 million euros compared with a loss of 101 million euros a year earlier.