Core Insights - Spotify's third quarter operating profits increased by 28%, with paying subscribers reaching 281 million [1] - Operating income was €582 million ($669 million), exceeding guidance of €485 million, while revenue rose 7% to €4.27 billion [1] - Total active monthly users (MAUs) grew to 713 million, an 11% year-over-year increase and a 2% rise from Q2 [1] Financial Performance - Free cash flow reached a record high of €806 million, up 13% [1] - Ad-supported revenue declined by 6% to €446 million, despite an 11% increase in ad-supported MAUs to 446 million [2] Future Outlook - Expectations for Q4 include total MAUs of 745 million, an increase of 32 million; 289 million paying subscribers, an increase of 8 million; total revenue projected at €4.5 billion; gross margin of 32.9%; and operating income of €620 million [3] - The company expressed confidence in its performance and growth potential heading into 2025 [3] Leadership Changes - Spotify founder and CEO Daniel Ek will transition to an Executive Chairman role on January 1, 2026, with Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström becoming co-CEOs [4]

Core Insights - Spotify forecasts fourth-quarter profit exceeding Wall Street expectations, driven by strong user growth and price hikes during the holiday season [1][2] - The company anticipates operating income of 620 million euros ($723.04 million) for Q4, slightly above estimates [2] - Spotify's premium subscribers increased by 12% to 281 million, with total monthly active users reaching 713 million, surpassing expectations [4] Financial Performance - Q4 revenue forecast is 4.5 billion euros, aligning with estimates of 4.57 billion euros, following a 7% rise in Q3 revenue [5] - The company reported a strong Q3 performance, beating earnings expectations [2][5] Strategic Initiatives - Investment priorities focus on user acquisition in emerging markets and expanding content offerings, including podcasts, videos, and audiobooks [3] - Spotify has introduced high-quality streaming options and expanded its audiobook catalog to 500,000 titles, significantly increasing listener engagement [3] Competitive Landscape - The forecast for premium subscribers in Q4 is 289 million, slightly below the estimate of 290.9 million, amid competition from Apple and Amazon [4] - Monthly active users forecast for Q4 is 745 million, exceeding the estimate of 737.3 million [5]