Spotify Adds 6 Million Subscribers, Reaches 306 Million

Spotify added 6 million paying subscribers in the third quarter, ending September with 306 million and exceeding its own forecast by 1 million, as revenue and operating income increased year over year. The company reported 788 million monthly active users, 11 million more than a year earlier, in its third-quarter results published October 22, 2026. Revenue rose 16% from a year earlier to €4.97 billion, while operating income increased 15% to €672 million. Gross margin was 33%, which Spotify described as a third-quarter record. Net income, however, fell to €518 million from €899 million a year earlier. Spotify said the earlier period included €262 million in finance income and a €72 million tax benefit. The paid-subscriber total rose from 300 million at the end of June to 306 million at the end of September. Spotify had forecast 305 million for the quarter. Monthly active users included both paying subscribers and users of its free, advertising-supported service; the latter reached 499 million, according to the company. Spotify forecast 316 million paying subscribers and 818 million monthly active users for the fourth quarter. It also projected revenue of €5.2 billion and...