[Applause] [Music] You know that moment when you're watching a movie or your favorite TV show or you're reading a book and you feel something, a connection to the story. You are there. You are the character or you love them so much that they start to feel like friends.You root for them to pull through a challenge, experience their first kiss or finally stand up for themselves or for those who can't. Now imagine that story, the movie or TV show, but instead of human actors, all these friends are now replaced ...

Core Insights - Amazon is restructuring its Wondery podcast studio due to a shift in podcast consumption towards video and personality-driven content [1][2] - Approximately 110 employees, including Wondery's CEO Jen Sargent, are being laid off as part of this reorganization [1][11] - The podcasting landscape has evolved, with a notable increase in video-forward, creator-led content, necessitating distinct strategies for audience engagement and monetization [5][6] Organizational Changes - Wondery's narrative podcast team will be integrated into Amazon's audiobook division, Audible, focusing on audio-led storytelling [3][8] - The creator-led content team from Wondery will join the Talent Services team, forming a new organization called Creator Services [9] - A new team will be established to enhance advertising and sponsorship opportunities across Wondery and Amazon Music, led by Angie More [10] Performance and Future Direction - Wondery has produced award-winning podcasts and has seen podcast revenue grow by more than 4 times since joining Amazon [4][11] - The restructuring aims to better support creators in monetizing their content and simplify the advertising process [4][6] - The changes are expected to enhance the overall experience for creators, customers, and advertisers, aligning with strategic opportunities in the evolving podcast market [6][12]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q2 2025, Spotify's Monthly Active Users (MAU) grew by 18 million to 696 million, exceeding guidance by 7 million [24] - The company added 8 million net subscribers, reaching a total of 276 million, which is a 12% year-on-year increase [24] - Total revenue for the quarter was SEK 4.2 billion, reflecting a 15% year-on-year growth on a constant currency basis [24] - Premium revenue rose 16% year-on-year on a constant currency basis, driven by subscriber growth and Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) gains [25] - Gross margin was reported at 31.5%, expanding approximately 230 basis points year-on-year [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The advertising business delivered currency-neutral growth of 5% year-on-year, with automated sales channels being the largest contributor [25] - The conversion rate from free to paid users continues to improve, indicating healthy growth opportunities even in mature markets [14] - Video content consumption is growing 20 times faster than audio-only consumption since 2024, with over 350 million users streaming video podcasts [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Spotify holds a 45% market share in music streaming services, excluding China and Russia, which has been steadily growing [18] - The company has seen a 65% increase year-on-year in users streaming video podcasts [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Spotify aims to reach a billion subscribers, focusing on creating lifetime value rather than optimizing for short-term performance [10] - The company is recalibrating its advertising strategy to accelerate its contribution to financials, with a focus on improving execution and launching new tools for advertisers [15] - The multi-format strategy is proving effective, as engagement increases with the variety of content offered [17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the business's fundamentals and the expected standout year for 2025, despite some areas not meeting expectations [9] - The company is optimistic about the potential of its advertising business and is working to enhance its execution [15] - Management acknowledged the need for faster progress in the advertising sector and indicated that leadership changes were made to facilitate this [78] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with SEK 8.4 billion in cash and short-term investments [28] - Spotify has approved an upsizing of its share repurchase authorization to $2 billion, with about $100 million utilized prior to Q2 [32] Q&A Session All Questions and Answers Question: Update on introducing tiers or a tier for super fans - Spotify is building products for super fans and has rolled out an audiobook add-on subscription in 13 markets, with plans for further expansion [36] Question: Change in gross margin guidance - The company maintains its philosophy on guidance and expects to increase gross margins over time through various monetization strategies [39] Question: Influence of generative AI on productivity and product development - Generative AI is enhancing productivity through faster prototyping and is expected to significantly improve consumer experiences by allowing more interactive engagement [43][48] Question: Capital allocation and share buyback execution - The primary focus remains on growth opportunities, with share buybacks seen as a tool for flexibility [52] Question: Implied FX neutral ARPU trends for Q3 - ARPU is expected to be flat year-on-year on a constant currency basis, with variations driven by market dynamics [55] Question: Investments in the business across verticals - Spotify sees enormous runway for growth across music, video, and audiobooks, with a focus on long-term value creation [60] Question: Pricing strategy in developed markets - The company emphasizes the value-to-price ratio and will adjust pricing when appropriate, maintaining a focus on subscriber growth [98]