KOBALT AND SPOTIFY STRIKE NEW DIRECT LICENSING AGREEMENT

New York and Stockholm, August 13, 2025 — Spotify and Kobalt, the world’s largest independent music publisher, have entered into a direct, multi-year licensing agreement designed to deliver greater ﬂexibility, eﬃciency, value, and protections to songwriters in the US.

This deal reﬂects the collaborative eﬀorts between Kobalt and Spotify in building a licensing framework to enable new formats, innovations, and potential to connect creators and fans alike. The deal also reﬂects a broader shift toward licensing structures that allow songwriters to participate more directly in the value their work creates on streaming platforms.

“We’ve always believed that better partnerships lead to better outcomes,” said Alex Norström, Co-President & Chief Business Oﬃcer, Spotify. “This agreement with Kobalt boosts our support of songwriters through a licensing model that unlocks new growth and will expand the way music is made and shared today.”

Laurent Hubert, CEO of Kobalt said, “As the largest independent music publisher dedicated to ﬁghting for the rights of songwriters, this deal reaﬃrms our unwavering commitment to ensuring our songwriters are paid fairly for their work, and underscores the importance of progressive licensing models that reﬂect the real-world use of music across digital platforms. This partnership is a step in the right direction, and we look forward to continuing to work with Spotify to increase the value of songwriter royalties."

About Spotify

Since its launch in 2008, Spotify has revolutionised music listening. Our move into podcasting brought innovation and a new generation of listeners to the medium. In 2022, we took the next leap, entering the fast-growing audiobook market—continuing to shape the future of audio.

Today, more listeners than ever can discover, manage and enjoy over 100 million tracks, nearly 7 million podcast titles, and 350,000 audiobooks a la carte on Spotify. We are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with more than 696 million users, including 276 million subscribers in more than 180 markets.

About Kobalt

Kobalt Music is the leading independent music publishing destination for songwriters and publishers, powered by technology. Across 10 global oﬃces, Kobalt serves over 1 Million songs,

representing some of the biggest songwriters in the world, including Roddy Ricch, Max Martin, Karol G, Andrew Watt, Stevie Nicks, Phoebe Bridgers, The Lumineers, Gunna, Justin Quiles, The Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney, and many more. On average, Kobalt represents over 35% of the top 100 songs and albums in the US and the UK. With a relentless focus on advancing the interests of creators, Kobalt leverages cutting-edge technology to streamline the complex processes of music publishing administration. The company's dedication to transparency, coupled with its forward-thinking approach, has positioned it as a trusted partner for songwriters and rights holders navigating the ever-evolving music industry.

Kobalt’s unwavering commitment to empowering creators and reshaping the future of music rights management solidiﬁes its standing as a global leader in the music industry. The company continues to transform the industry, most recently via AMRA, its global digital music collection society designed to maximize value for songwriters and publishers in today's digital age, while providing the highest level of transparency and eﬃciency. For more information about Kobalt, please visit www.kobaltmusic.com.