Daniel Ek

Ek grew up in the Rågsved district of Stockholm, Sweden.{{Cite web|date=10 November 2013|title=Is Daniel Ek, Spotify founder, going to save the music industry … or destroy it?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/10/daniel-ek-spotify-streaming-music|access-date=5 February 2022|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=10 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310104001/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/nov/10/daniel-ek-spotify-streaming-music|url-status=live}} He graduated from high school in IT-Gymnasiet in Sundbyberg Municipality in 2002 and then studied engineering at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology for 8 weeks before dropping out to focus on his IT career.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2012/01/04/spotifys-daniel-ek-the-most-important-man-in-music/3/#c16c443218ed |title=Spotify's Daniel Ek: The Most Important Man In Music |website=Forbes |access-date=12 December 2017 |archive-date=30 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530134347/https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2012/01/04/spotifys-daniel-ek-the-most-important-man-in-music/3/#c16c443218ed |url-status=live }}.{{Cite web |title=Daniel Ek |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/people/daniel-ek/ |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=Music Business Worldwide |date=5 February 2021 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717205719/https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/people/daniel-ek/ |url-status=live }}

Ek had a senior role at Nordic auction company Tradera, which was acquired by eBay in 2006. He was also the CTO of the browser-based game and fashion community Stardoll and later started Advertigo, an online advertising company. Advertigo was sold to TradeDoubler in 2006,{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/7259509/Daniel-Ek-profile-Spotify-will-be-worth-tens-of-billions.html |title=Daniel Ek profile: 'Spotify will be worth tens of billions' |date=17 February 2010 |access-date=6 December 2017 |last1=Neate |first1=Rupert |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604184756/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/7259509/Daniel-Ek-profile-Spotify-will-be-worth-tens-of-billions.html |url-status=live }}. after which Ek briefly became the CEO of μTorrent, working with μTorrent founder Ludvig Strigeus until μTorrent was sold to BitTorrent in December 2006. Strigeus would later join Ek as a Spotify developer.{{cite web|url=https://torrentfreak.com/spotify-reminded-of-utorrent-past-after-branding-grooveshark-pirates-141112/|title=Spotify Reminded of uTorrent Past After Branding Grooveshark 'Pirates'|publisher=Torrent Freak|author=Andy|date=12 November 2014|access-date=3 September 2016|archive-date=21 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121192609/https://torrentfreak.com/spotify-reminded-of-utorrent-past-after-branding-grooveshark-pirates-141112/|url-status=live}}

The sale of Advertigo as well as his previous work made Ek wealthy enough that he decided to retire. However, after a few months, he realized he wanted a new project, leading to him founding Spotify.{{cite web |url=https://pando.com/2012/11/08/daniel-eks-impossible-thinking-started-at-age-13-with-a-web-development-mini-empire/ |title=Daniel Ek's "impossible thinking" started at age 13 with a Web development mini-empire |date=9 November 2012 |access-date=6 December 2017 |archive-date=5 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105022258/https://pando.com/2012/11/08/daniel-eks-impossible-thinking-started-at-age-13-with-a-web-development-mini-empire/ |url-status=dead }}. Ek first had the idea for Spotify in 2002 when peer-to-peer music service Napster shut down and another illegal site Kazaa took over. Ek said he "realized that you can never legislate away from piracy. Laws can definitely help, but it doesn't take away the problem. The only way to solve the problem was to create a service that was better than piracy and at the same time compensates the music industry – that gave us Spotify."

Ek incorporated Spotify AB with Martin Lorentzon in Stockholm, Sweden in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://fortune.com/2016/05/24/spotify-revenue-up-operating-loss-widens/|title=Spotify Subscriptions Boost Revenue But Operating Loss Widens|publisher=Fortune|agency=Reuters|date=24 May 2016|access-date=3 September 2016|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413044156/http://fortune.com/2016/05/24/spotify-revenue-up-operating-loss-widens/|url-status=live}} Lorentzon had previously worked at and co-founded TradeDoubler, which acquired Ek's previous company Advertigo.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6590101/daniel-ek-spotify-ceo-streaming-feature-tidal-apple-record-labels-taylor-swift|title=Billboard Cover: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek on Taylor Swift, His 'Freemium' Business Model and Why He's Saving the Music Industry|magazine=Billboard|author=Robert Levine|date=5 June 2015|access-date=3 September 2016|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108113616/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6590101/daniel-ek-spotify-ceo-streaming-feature-tidal-apple-record-labels-taylor-swift|url-status=live}} In October 2008, the company launched its legal music streaming service Spotify. Initially, Spotify ran on a peer-to-peer distribution model, similar to μTorrent, but switched to a server-client model in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://gigaom.com/2014/04/16/spotify-gives-up-on-p2p-technology-for-music-streaming/|title=Spotify gives up on P2P technology for music streaming|publisher=GigaOm|author=Janko Roettgers|date=16 April 2014|access-date=3 September 2016|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111200936/https://gigaom.com/2014/04/16/spotify-gives-up-on-p2p-technology-for-music-streaming/|url-status=dead}} In October 2016, Spotify co-founder Martin Lorentzon announced he would be stepping down as chairman and Ek would be taking over alongside his role as CEO.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/14/spotify-co-founder-martin-lorentzon-steps-down-as-chairman-ceo-daniel-ek-steps-up/|title=Spotify co-founder Martin Lorentzon steps down as chairman, CEO Daniel Ek steps up|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|website=TechCrunch|date=14 October 2016|access-date=14 October 2016|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030003315/https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/14/spotify-co-founder-martin-lorentzon-steps-down-as-chairman-ceo-daniel-ek-steps-up/|url-status=live}} As of April 2019, Spotify has 217 million active users{{Cite web|url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2019-04-29/spotify-reports-first-quarter-2019-earnings/|title=Spotify Reports First Quarter 2019 Earnings|date=29 April 2019|website=Spotify|language=en-US|access-date=30 April 2019|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034919/https://newsroom.spotify.com/2019-04-29/spotify-reports-first-quarter-2019-earnings/|url-status=live}} and as of June 2017 had raised over $2.5 billion in venture funding.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/15/15807826/spotify-140-million-active-users |title=Spotify now has 140 million active users |author=Micah Singleton |date=15 June 2017 |access-date=27 September 2017 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111162114/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/15/15807826/spotify-140-million-active-users |url-status=live }}

In 2017, Ek was named the most powerful person in the music industry by Billboard.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/10/spotify-daniel-ek-most-powerful-person-music-business|title=Spotify's Daniel Ek named most powerful person in the music business|last=music|first=Guardian|date=10 February 2017|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111231836/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/10/spotify-daniel-ek-most-powerful-person-music-business|url-status=live}}

In May 2022, Ek invested an additional $50 million to acquire more Spotify shares, citing an optimistic future outlook for the streaming giant.{{Cite web |title=Daniel Ek pumps $50 million into Spotify: 'I believe our best days are ahead' |url=https://sendstory.co/news/daniel-ek-pumps-50-million |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=Daniel Ek pumps $50 million into Spotify: ‘I believe our best days are ahead’ {{!}} TechCrunch News @ SendStory |language=en |archive-date=18 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118142838/https://sendstory.co/news/daniel-ek-pumps-50-million |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Today |first=Telangana |date=7 May 2022 |title=Spotify CEO Daniel Ek pumps $50 mn into his music streaming platform |url=https://telanganatoday.com/spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-pumps-50-mn-into-his-music-streaming-platform |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=Telangana Today |language=en-US |archive-date=7 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507071301/https://telanganatoday.com/spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-pumps-50-mn-into-his-music-streaming-platform |url-status=live }} Spotify at that time had 182 million paying subscribers and was growing at 15% year on year.

Ek co-founded the medical technology company Neko Health in 2018, along with engineer Hjalmar Nilsonne. The company emerged from stealth mode in 2023 showcasing its non-invasive full-body scanning technology, which uses sensors and artificial intelligence to collect and analyze health data. Initially self-funded with €30 million from Ek through his investment vehicle, the company has since received backing from outside investors. The company operates in Stockholm and London as of 2024.{{Cite web |last=Billing |first=Mimi |date=29 April 2024 |title=Daniel Ek's body scanning healthtech Neko Health is expanding to the UK |url=https://sifted.eu/articles/daniel-eks-body-scanning-neko-health-is-expanding-to-the-uk-news |work=Sifted |access-date=7 September 2024 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805165254/https://sifted.eu/articles/daniel-eks-body-scanning-neko-health-is-expanding-to-the-uk-news |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Bernhard |date=27 April 2024 |title=Daniel Ek's Next Act: Full-Body Scans for the People |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/27/business/dealbook/daniel-ek-neko-health.html |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826192902/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/27/business/dealbook/daniel-ek-neko-health.html |archive-date=26 August 2024 |url-status=live}}

In 2016, Ek and fellow Spotify co-founder Martin Lorentzon wrote an open letter on the blogging platform Medium to the Swedish government saying that if certain changes to Swedish law regarding housing, taxation, and education are not made, Spotify will be forced to relocate from the country.{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/661319/sweden-must-change-quickly-spotify-threatens-to-leave-the-country/|title="Sweden must change quickly": Spotify threatens to leave the country|first=Joon Ian|last=Wong|website=Quartz|date=14 April 2016|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111221054/https://qz.com/661319/sweden-must-change-quickly-spotify-threatens-to-leave-the-country/|url-status=live}} More specifically, Ek claims that the high taxes in Sweden on stock options makes it difficult to incentivize programmers to work at startups when startups have trouble competing with larger companies on salary. Moreover, Ek claims the Swedish permitting policy is overly restrictive, limiting the supply of affordable housing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/list/politico-28-class-of-2017-ranking/daniel-ek/|title=DANIEL EK|date=7 December 2016|website=POLITICO|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813193032/https://www.politico.eu/list/politico-28-class-of-2017-ranking/daniel-ek/|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Ek married Sofia Levander, his longtime partner, at Lake Como. At Ek's wedding, Bruno Mars performed and Chris Rock officiated; he invited numerous guests, including Mark Zuckerberg.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7685308/no-1-power-100-daniel-ek-spotify|title=Billboard Power 100's New No. 1: Spotify Streaming Pioneer Daniel Ek|magazine=Billboard|access-date=27 May 2017|archive-date=31 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031155600/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7685308/no-1-power-100-daniel-ek-spotify|url-status=live}} Ek and his wife have two daughters together.{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Oliver |date=5 September 2024 |title=Daniel Ek: my health check-up with Doctor Spotify |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/daniel-ek-neko-health-experience-private-healthcare-kllv7jmv3 |work=The Sunday Times |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240905070930/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/daniel-ek-neko-health-experience-private-healthcare-kllv7jmv3 |archive-date=5 September 2024 |url-status=live}}

Ek is a lifelong supporter of Premier League club Arsenal, and, in April 2021, expressed an interest in purchasing the football club if it were put up for sale.{{Cite tweet |user=eldsjal |number=1385667437929062403 |title=As a kid growing up, I've cheered for @Arsenal as long as I can remember. If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I'd be happy to throw my hat in the ring.}} In May 2021, Ek made an offer to buy the club for approximately £1.8 billion, which was rejected by the owners.{{Cite web|title=Daniel Ek claims his £1.8bn bid to buy Arsenal was rejected by owners Kroenke Sports & Entertainment|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12307501/spotify-co-founder-daniel-ek-claims-arsenal-have-turned-down-his-offer-to-buy-the-premier-league-club|access-date=15 May 2021|website=Sky Sports|language=en|archive-date=6 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406110246/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12307501/spotify-co-founder-daniel-ek-claims-arsenal-have-turned-down-his-offer-to-buy-the-premier-league-club|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=15 May 2021|title=Daniel Ek reveals Kroenke family have rejected his bid to buy Arsenal|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/15/daniel-ek-reveals-kroenke-family-rejected-bid-buy-arsenal|access-date=15 May 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=16 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316202740/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/15/daniel-ek-reveals-kroenke-family-rejected-bid-buy-arsenal|url-status=live}}

In the 2022 Netflix miniseries The Playlist, Ek is portrayed by Edvin Endre.{{Cite web |last=Enker |first=Debi |date=28 December 2022 |title=The rise-and-rise of Spotify is told in a ripper Swedish series |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/the-rise-and-rise-of-spotify-is-told-in-a-ripper-swedish-series-20221226-p5c8rz.html |work=Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Einav |first=Dan |date=13 October 2022 |title=The Playlist on Netflix dramatises the implausible rise of Spotify — review |url=https://www.ft.com/content/93ad258e-a3d4-481a-8141-f25e50425e6f |work=Financial Times}}

In an interview with Music Ally in 2020, Ek said: “...There is a narrative fallacy here, combined with the fact that, obviously, some artists that used to do well in the past may not do well in this future landscape, where you can’t record music once every three to four years and think that’s going to be enough,”

“The artists today that are making it realise that it’s about creating a continuous engagement with their fans. It is about putting the work in, about the storytelling around the album, and about keeping a continuous dialogue with your fans.”{{Cite web |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=2020-07-30 |title=Spotify CEO talks Covid-19, artist incomes and podcasting (interview) |url=https://musically.com/2020/07/30/spotify-ceo-talks-covid-19-artist-incomes-and-podcasting-interview/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Music Ally |language=en-GB}}

His response was not well received from the music industry with artists and producers replying robustly to his comments. Dee Snider of Twister Sister said: "While you (the listener) benefit & enjoy spotify, it's part of what's killing a major income stream for artist/creators. The amount of artists "rich enough" to withstand this loss are about .0001%. Daniel Ek's solution is for us to write & record more on our dime?! Fuck him!"{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/deesnider/status/1289638804186308608 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240630024705/https://x.com/deesnider/status/1289638804186308608 |archive-date=2024-06-30 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}} to R.E.M.'s Mike Mills' said: "Music=product, and must be churned out regularly, says billionaire Daniel Ek. Go fuck yourself."{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/m_millsey/status/1289057242894028800 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240614035608/https://x.com/m_millsey/status/1289057242894028800 |archive-date=2024-06-14 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Corey|date=2020-08-02 |title=Rockers React to Spotify CEO, Call Him a 'Greedy Little S---' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/spotify-ceo-rockers-respond/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}} to Producer, Jackknife Lee: "They need content, and it needs to be cheap so therefore it needs to be mass produced. Quality doesn’t matter really, it’s reliability they’re looking for"{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Russell Dean |date=2020-08-07 |title='He's Got A Point, It's Just That His Point Sucks' – Artists React to Spotify CEO Saying They Need to Work Harder |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/daniel-ek-spotify-artists-pay-interview/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=VICE |language=en-US}} to the co-founder of the End of The Road Festival, Sofia Genders: "Unbelievable! Han vet helt enkelt inte vad det är att vara musiker! Så lessen och trött man blir! Let's fix this broken system! #BrokenRecord {{Cite web |last=Genders |first=Sofia |date=1 August 2020 |title=Status |url=https://x.com/sofiagenders/status/1289468348984520705 |url-status=live |website=X}}

In a separate tweet in May 2024, Ek posted: "Today, with the cost of creating content being close to zero, people can share an incredible amount of content. This has sparked my curiosity about the concept of long shelf life versus short shelf life. While much of what we see and hear quickly becomes obsolete, there are timeless ideas or even pieces of music that can remain relevant for decades or even centuries.

For example, we’re witnessing a resurgence of Stoicism, with many of Marcus Aurelius’s insights still resonating thousands of years later. This makes me wonder: what are the most unintuitive, yet enduring ideas that aren’t frequently discussed today but might have a long shelf life? Also, what are we creating now that will still be valued and discussed hundreds or thousands of years from today?"{{Cite web |last=Ek |first=Daniel |date=30 May 2024 |title=Post |url=https://x.com/eldsjal/status/1795871513293320204 |url-status=live |access-date=17 March 2025}}

As with his previous intervention, it was not received well by musicians in the music industry. Matt Tong, the former Bloc Party drummer, swore in response to his tweet.{{Cite web |last=Tong |first=Matt |date=31 May 2024 |title=Post |url=https://x.com/MCH_Tong/status/1796403659825357038 |url-status=live |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=X}} The guitarist of Jamiroquai, Rob K Harris replied wryly: "Close to zero is what you guys and the labels seem to pay as a royalty. Funny that isn’t it."{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Rob K |date=1 June 2024 |title=Post |url=https://x.com/robkharris/status/1796551471754055720 |url-status=live |access-date=17 March 2025}} Tom Warren, journalist for tech website The Verge wrote: "“the cost of creating content being close to zero” ?!? just because Spotify pays artists fuck all, doesn’t mean the cost of being an artist or creator is nothing"{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=3 June 2024 |title=Post |url=https://x.com/tomwarren/status/1797346237680603188 |access-date=17 March 2025}}

The pointed reception had Ek reply in June 2024: "Obviously seeing the feedback to this one and wanted to respond. It’s clear I was far too vague in the post, including with my clumsy definition of content. I understand how it came across as very reductive and that wasn’t my intent. Just to clarify - my original point was not to devalue the time, effort, or resources involved in creating meaningful works, whether it’s music, literature, or other forms of creative expression.

What I was most interested in exploring was how, in this environment of constant creation, we can identify and ensure that the bold, exciting, world-changing ideas and pieces of art don’t get lost in the noise. The significant drop in the cost of creation tools (microphones, laptops, cameras) has led to an unprecedented explosion in the volume of what people are able to produce. Creation is only part of the equation. My focus was on exploring the staying power of the most creative, most thought-provoking ideas. That didn’t come across, and that’s on me."{{Cite news |title=Daniel Ek (@eldsjal) on X |url=https://x.com/eldsjal/status/1797372299743494328 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241123151929/https://x.com/eldsjal/status/1797372299743494328 |archive-date=2024-11-23 |access-date=2025-03-17 |work=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}

In the years since Ek and Spotify began releasing annual artist remuneration reports as part of the Loud & Clear initiative.https://loudandclear.byspotify.com/

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