After acquiring cloud-based music and podcast creation tool Soundtrap five years ago, Spotify focuses on other areas.

Launched in Spotify’s homeland, Sweden in 2013, Soundtrap is a web-based recording, editing and mixing tool, that enables easy-to-use, real-time collaboration. The application was acquired by Spotify in 2017 for an estimated $30 million. In the following years, Soundtrap saw huge growth, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding new features along the way, such as a mobile sound recorder app. Later, Spotify implemented the software into their Roblox partnership and metaverse experiment. Since launch, Soundtrap was thought to be used by more than 10 million people back in January 2021.

Now Spotify are selling Soundtrap back to its founders, Per Emanuelsson and Björn Melinder, for an undisclosed amount, to operate as a standalone business again. It seems music creation is no longer a priority for Spotify, as it puts a focus on marketing opportunities for artists, as was highlighted at this year’s Stream On event.

Soundtrap was built to provide the best collaboration platform for making music online. Together with Soundtrap’s co-founder, Björn Melinder, we’ve made the decision to acquire the company from Spotify, returning to an independent operation. Over the last five years, we’ve greatly benefitted from Spotify’s expertise and global reach, enabling us to rapidly scale our service and launch new products. We thank Spotify for helping to set us on the trajectory we’re on today and are very excited for the future.

Per Emanuelsson, CEO and Co-Founder, Soundtrap

Soundtrap continues to make great strides in enabling more people to make music collaboratively online. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and are excited to see Soundtrap’s next phase of growth over the coming years.

Charlie Hellman, VP, Global Head of Music Product, Spotify

This move isn’t rare for the music streaming service. Spotify sold back another acquired start up to its founders after just two years. Artist-services directory, SoundBetter was sold in October 2021.

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