Spotify has crossed another major milestone, surpassing 300 million Premium subscribers as the music streaming giant continued its impressive growth during the second quarter of 2026. The company added seven million paying subscribers during the three months, outperforming its own expectations and reinforcing its position as the world’s leading audio streaming platform.
By the end of the quarter, Spotify’s total monthly active users had reached 777 million, including listeners using its free, advertising-supported service. Although this figure fell just short of the company’s forecast of 778 million users, Spotify attributed the slight miss to product optimisation efforts carried out during the quarter.
The music streaming giant also enjoyed a healthy quarter financially. Revenue increased 14% year-on-year to US$5 billion, meeting company forecasts, while operating income rose to US$755 million. Gross margin hit a record 33.4%, and Spotify reversed last year’s loss by delivering a net profit of US$628 million.
The company’s Premium service continued to power its financial growth, with subscription revenue increasing 15% to US$4.99 billion. Advertising income also moved in the right direction, growing by 1% to US$514 million during the quarter.
Spotify said stronger Premium performance, coupled with disciplined cost management, helped lift margins despite continued investment in audiobooks and video podcasts. On the advertising side, improved podcast performance and favourable tax-related factors offset higher music licensing costs.
Spotify believes its growth will continue into the next quarter. The company is forecasting revenue of US$5.7 billion, operating income of US$772 million and a gross margin of 32.9%. It also expects its Premium subscriber base to reach 305 million, with total monthly active users rising to 788 million.
Alongside its financial results, Spotify highlighted several product launches aimed at strengthening user engagement. During the quarter, it introduced Reserved in the United States, a feature that gives an artist’s most loyal fans exclusive early access to concert tickets. The platform also rolled out Personal Podcasts, allowing users to generate AI-powered podcast episodes tailored to their individual interests and listening habits.
Spotify further announced a new agreement with Merlin covering its forthcoming fan-made covers and remixing tool. The feature, which will be offered as a paid add-on, will allow participating independent artists and labels to earn additional revenue while giving fans new ways to interact creatively with music.
Commenting on the results, co-CEO Alex Norström said Spotify has reached a scale achieved by very few companies, noting that the platform has become part of users’ everyday lives, from commuting and exercising to studying, gaming and relaxing. He said this broad reach creates significant opportunities for future growth.
Co-CEO Gustav Söderström said Spotify is continuing to invest in new technologies and product development as it looks to shape the future of audio. He said the company’s focus remains on identifying emerging innovations early and turning them into products that create long-term value for listeners, artists and investors.
