Spotify to Acquire Parcast, a Premier Podcast Storytelling Studio
Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT), the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, today announced that it has
entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Parcast, a premier storytelling-driven podcast studio. Terms of the transaction were
not disclosed.
Since its founding in 2016, Parcast has launched 18 premium podcast series including Serial Killers, Unsolved Murders, Cults and
Conspiracy Theories and the studio’s first fiction series, Mind’s Eye. Parcast will bring to Spotify its curated library of highly
produced shows and its engaged, loyal audiences. With an expertise in genres touching mystery, crime, science fiction, and history,
Parcast has shown it has depth in subject matter and the ability to develop audiences across its robust network. Additionally,
Parcast has more than 20 new shows slated to launch later this year.
“The addition of Parcast to our growing roster of podcast content will advance our goal of becoming the world’s leading audio
platform,” said Dawn Ostroff, Spotify Chief Content Officer. “Crime and mystery podcasts are a top genre for our users and Parcast
has had significant success creating hit series while building a loyal and growing fan base. We’re excited to welcome the Parcast
team to Spotify and we look forward to supercharging their growth."
“In three years, we have created a production house that has grown exponentially and hit a chord with mystery and true-crime
fans, especially women, across all 50 states and around the world. We are proud to join the world’s most popular audio subscription
streaming service and gain access to one of the largest audiences around the world,” said Max Cutler, Founder and President of
Parcast. “Alongside Spotify, our ability to scale, grow and amplify the unique and tailored brand of content we create is full of
fantastic possibilities.”
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019 and subject to customary closing conditions.
About Parcast
Parcast is the premier storytelling podcast studio focused on creating scripted, story-driven programming that is engaging,
informative, and entertaining. Parcast creates, develops and produces its shows in-house by a team of writers, researchers and
hosts. Hit titles from Parcast include Cults, Serial Killers, and Mythology.
About Spotify Technology S.A.
Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity
by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be
inspired by these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music.
Discover, manage, and share over 40 million tracks for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features
including offline mode, improved sound quality, Spotify Connect and ad-free listening.
Today, we are the world’s largest music streaming subscription service with a community of 207 million users, including 96
million Spotify Premium subscribers, across 79 markets.
For more information, images, or to contact the press team, head over to our press page at
https://newsroom.spotify.com/.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We would like to caution you certain of the above statements represent “forward-looking statements” as defined in Section 27A of
the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible,” and similar words are intended to identify estimates and
forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for
forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include this statement for
purposes of complying with the safe harbor provisions. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or
projections, including but not limited to the following known material factors: our ability to attract prospective users and to
retain existing users; our dependence upon third-party licenses for sound recordings and musical compositions; our lack of control
over the providers of our content and their effect on our access to music and other content; our ability to generate sufficient
revenue to be profitable or to generate positive cash flow on a sustained basis; our ability to comply with the many complex
license agreements to which we are a party; our ability to accurately estimate the amounts payable under our license agreements;
the limitations on our operating flexibility due to the minimum guarantees required under certain of our license agreements; our
ability to obtain accurate and comprehensive information about music compositions in order to obtain necessary licenses or perform
obligations under our existing license agreements; potential breaches of our security systems; assertions by third parties of
infringement or other violations by us of their intellectual property rights; competition for users and user listening time; our
ability to accurately estimate our user metrics and other estimates; risks associated with manipulation of stream counts and user
accounts and unauthorized access to our services; changes in legislation or governmental regulations affecting us; ability to hire
and retain key personnel; our ability to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand; risks associated with our international
expansion, including difficulties obtaining rights to stream music on favorable terms; risks relating to the acquisition,
investment, integration and disposition of companies or technologies; dilution resulting from additional share issuances;
tax-related risks; the concentration of voting power among our founders who have and will continue to have substantial control over
our business; risks related to our status as a foreign private issuer; international, national or local economic, social or
political conditions; risks associated with accounting estimates, currency fluctuations and foreign exchange controls; and such
other risks as set forth in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investor Relations:
Paul Vogel
ir@spotify.com
Or
Public Relations:
Dustee Jenkins
press@spotify.com
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