Spotify has promoted The Ringer’s Bill Simmons to a brand new function as head of world sports activities technique, reported Deadline. Simmons has labored underneath the streaming service’s umbrella because it purchased his sports activities and tradition podcast community The Ringer again in 2020. In his new function, we’ll possible see Simmons broaden upon the present lineup of NBA, MLB and NFL-focused podcasts and dive into worldwide territory. We’ve already gotten a touch of that with exhibits like The Rugby Pod with Andy Goode, Big Jim Hamilton and host Andy Rowe.
Spotify’s non-US viewers is getting bigger — the service is at present obtainable in 178 international locations. Its variety of subscribers really grew by 2 million within the first quarter of 2022 (regardless of shedding all of its Russian subscribers), which it pinned on “outperformance in Latin America and Europe”. Last 12 months, the streaming service expanded to 86 new international locations, with the purpose of finally streaming to over 1 billion customers. Earlier this 12 months, Spotify introduced it was going to develop into the principle associate of FC Barcelona, in addition to its official audio streaming associate. Given the truth that no world sports activities protection can be full with out soccer, we’re prone to see much more from this area. There’s little question an urge for food amongst Spotify’s world viewers for exhibits targeted on the Premier League, FIFA and the World Cup, in addition to different worldwide sports activities matters.
The promotion of Simmons is part of a broader shake-up in Spotify’s exec construction. Parcast founder Max Cutler will develop into Spotify’s head of creator content material and partnerships, overseeing originals and heading a completely new division of “creator-focused” content material. Julie McNamara will oversee studio partnerships and Hollywood-produced works.
In Spotify’s newest earnings name, it introduced it reached a file 422 million world month-to-month energetic customers. But regardless of its robust progress, the preliminary considerations that Spotify could have bitten off greater than it may chew with its $1 billion funding in podcasts hasn’t light. While podcast listening hours skyrocketed throughout the pandemic, there’s no assure that Spotify will be capable to maintain on to that momentum sooner or later.