Spotify: Wir verkaufen nicht

Regelmäßig machen Gerüchte die Runde, das beliebte (und in Deutschland weiterhin nicht verfügbare) Streaming-Startup Spotify würde mit Apple oder Google über eine Übernahme verhandeln. In einer Email an GigaOm stellt Jim Butcher, Communications Director bei Spotify, zumindest die offizielle Linie des Unternehmens klar:

We wouldn’t normally comment on this kind of speculation, but we wanted to make it clear that we have absolutely no intention of selling Spotify. We’re working hard to build the best music service we can and are in this for the long haul.

Interessant ist, was TechCrunch als Grund anführt für die angeblich gescheiterten Verhandlungen zwischen Google und Spotify:

But the deal almost happened, says our source, and Google was going to pay nearly $1 billion for the service. Ultimately the deal went sideways because Google was demanding that all label deals be grandfathered in. And Spotify wanted a $800 million+ walk away fee if the deal faltered (Google had a similar provision in their Admob acquisition).

Here’s what “grandfathering” label deals means: The deals that music labels do with online music companies contain a provision that if the company is acquired, the deals terminate. That’s exactly what tripped up Facebook when they were looking to acquire or partner with a music startup a few years ago.

So if a company like Spotify gets great label deals, like they have in Europe, those deals have to be completely renegotiated if they’re acquired. It ends up making these companies largely un-buyable.

Spotify hat über 80 Millionen Euro von Investoren erhalten. Das schwedische Startup ist neben Deutschland auch noch nicht in den USA gestartet.