{"id":106778,"date":"2026-01-13T12:26:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T12:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=106778"},"modified":"2026-01-13T12:27:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T12:27:00","slug":"what-to-expect-from-spotify-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/what-to-expect-from-spotify-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"What to expect from Spotify in 2026: A message from Spotify’s new Co-CEOs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Fresh after stepping up to become CO-CEOs, Alex Norstr\u00f6m and Gustav S\u00f6derstr\u00f6m reveal what\u2019s ahead for Spotify.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Back in October, it was confirmed<\/a> that Spotify<\/a> founder Daniel Ek would step down as CEO at the start of 2026, with Alex Norstr\u00f6m and Gustav S\u00f6derstr\u00f6m stepping up to be Co-CEOs. Now, the handover is official, and the pair have outlined<\/a> what artists, labels, publishers, and partners can expect from the world\u2019s biggest streaming platform this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central focus remains the same<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite the headline-making leadership change, Spotify\u2019s Co-CEOs are keen to stress that this isn\u2019t about rewriting the rulebook. The pair have spent over 15 years at Spotify, and see this transition as a continuation of their journey. In fact, when the news initially broke in October, it was reported that their new titles would simply reflect how the company was already operating anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this, Spotify\u2019s focus for 2026 is staying consistent too. While the platform now spans podcasts, audiobooks, and helps to support a global creator ecosystem across 180+ markets, music remains the foundation. The Co-CEOs want Spotify to be a place where discovery feels meaningful, listening feels intentional, and time spent on the app feels worthwhile. All while using technology to help innovate the experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four ideas shaping Spotify\u2019s year ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To kickstart the year, Norstr\u00f6m and S\u00f6derstr\u00f6m have outlined four core focus areas that will guide Spotify\u2019s decisions in 2026. Here\u2019s what they are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designing for a \u2018no regrets\u2019 listening experience<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Spotify wants users to leave every session feeling like their time was well spent. Whether it\u2019s stumbling across a new favorite artist, diving into a playlist built for a specific mood, or getting lost in an audiobook or podcast, the goal is to make listening feel rewarding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That suggests a continued emphasis on discovery that feels personal and rewarding, not just algorithmic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving listeners more control<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

AI continues to be a huge talking point for the music industry, but Spotify wants its use to be clear. Spotify isn\u2019t using AI to replace human taste or automating creativity. It\u2019s all about giving users more control over what they’re listening to. For example, Spotify features like DJ requests<\/a>, Prompted Playlists<\/a> and Mixing<\/a> are designed to respond to your taste, giving you more of what you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This seems to be a wider trend on social platforms too. Recently, TikTok<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> gave users more influence on the content they see in their feed, with YouTube tests<\/a> revealing something similar could be happening there too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Your Algorithm” lets Instagram users control their Reels algorithm<\/a><\/blockquote>