Music streamer Spotify revenues topped 1b euros in 2014

[STOCKHOLM] Online music streaming service Spotify's revenues leapt 45 per cent to top 1 billion euros (S$1.5 billion) last year, though its operating loss widened due to product development and expansion costs, its holding company said.

Stockholm-based Spotify, which provides free on-demand music or ad-free tunes for paying customers, posted an operating loss of 165 million euros, compared with a loss of 91 million euros in 2013.

The company, founded in 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, was reportedly valued at about US$8 billion in a recent fundraising.

It said the increased loss was due to substantial investments in product development and international expansion, as well as an increase in staffing.

Its sales grew to 1.08 billion euros in 2014 from 747 million a year earlier.

The 2014 figures for its holding company Spotify Technology S.A. were obtained by Reuters from the Luxembourg company registry on Friday.

REUTERS