Daniel Ek Resigns from Spotify Amid Weapon Investment and Musician Boycott Issues

Some musicians who openly oppose Spotify include Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Hotline TNT, and even Massive Attack. They believe that Ek's involvement in weapons investment contradicts the humanitarian values they uphold. “The money that flows from our work should not fund wars,” said a member of Deerhoof as quoted by The Verge.

Nevertheless, Daniel Ek is not completely leaving the company he founded. Starting January 2026, the 42-year-old will serve as Executive Chairman of Spotify. In his statement, Ek emphasized that he will still play an active role in determining the company's long-term direction and strategy. “I will remain involved, perhaps even more deeply than a typical chairman role in America,” Ek said as quoted by Times of India.

The position of CEO of Spotify will now be held by two people simultaneously, namely Alex Norstrom and Gustav Soderstrom. Both have long been part of Spotify's executive team and will share responsibilities as co-CEOs.

Gustav Soderstrom is known as the figure behind Spotify's product and technology strategy. He joined the company in 2009 after previously working at Yahoo Mobile. A graduate of KTH Royal Institute of Technology, he has played a crucial role in the development of key features of Spotify that are now used by hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

Meanwhile, Alex Norstrom has had a career at Spotify for more than 15 years. He previously served as Chief Business Officer and is known as the person who directs the company's business and monetization strategy. In an interview with Music Business Worldwide, Norstrom stated that his mission is to make Spotify not just a streaming platform, but 'the main home for creators.'

Although this restructuring seems significant, many observers believe that the changes will not significantly alter Spotify's policy direction. The Verge wrote that the change in Daniel Ek's position is merely a form of symbolic rotation as he still holds strategic influence in his new role. Some musicians who previously pulled their songs have also stated that they do not intend to return to the platform.

With this change in leadership, Spotify is now entering a new chapter in its history. On one hand, the company is trying to strengthen its global business position with a collective leadership structure. However, on the other hand, ethical challenges and public trust in the company's values remain the biggest test for Daniel Ek's legacy at Spotify.