Spotify layoffs, on the record
Every job cut, severance charge and restructuring Spotify reported in its annual reports, 2023 to 2025, quoted from the filings. Headcount went from 9,123 to more than 7,000.
Headcount, as reported
| Annual report | Employees | As of |
|---|---|---|
| 20-F for 2023 | 9,123 | 2023 |
| 20-F for 2024 | 7,691 | 2024 |
| 20-F for 2025 | more than 7,000 | — |
Job cuts, severance and restructuring
Our summaryAnnounced a reorganization to streamline the organizational structure and reduce operating costs, reducing the employee base across the Company.
Word for word“On January 23, 2023, the Company announced a reorganization to streamline our organizational structure and reduce our operating costs.” 20-F for 2023
Our summaryExecuted a strategic realignment and reorganization plan focusing on podcast operations and rationalizing the content portfolio.
Word for word“In the second fiscal quarter of 2023, the Company executed a strategic realignment and reorganization plan focusing on podcast operations and to rationalize our content portfolio.” 20-F for 2023
Our summaryAnnounced a reduction in force that reduced the employee base across the Company.
Word for word“On December 4, 2023, the Company announced a reduction in force, through which our employee base was reduced by approximately 17 %.” 20-F for 2023
Our summaryRecognized employee severance charges related to the reorganizations and reductions in force, split by cost line.
Word for word“In connection with these reorganizations, during the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized charges of € 212 million for employee severance.” 20-F for 2023
Our summaryAccrued employee severance costs for the latest reduction in force, expected to be substantially settled in the second fiscal quarter of 2024.
Word for word“As of December 31, 2023, we have accrued employee severance costs related to the latest reduction in force of € 136 million included within current accrued expenses and other liabilities.” 20-F for 2023
Our summaryDescribed the severance and benefits package offered to departing employees, including severance pay, paid time off, healthcare, immigration support and outplacement.
Word for word“Severance: starting with a baseline amount for all employees, plus additional months depending on employee location, tenure, notice period and other factors, with the average departing employee receiving approximately five months of severance and notice pay;” 20-F for 2023
Our summaryRecorded employee severance costs within sales and marketing expenses, along with real estate impairment charges.
Word for word“These decreases were partially offset by employee severance costs of €34 million and impairment charges on real estate assets of €18 million for 49 Table of Contents the year ended December 31, 2023 .” 20-F for 2023
Our summarySpotify ran a strategic realignment and reorganization plan focused on podcast operations and rationalizing its content portfolio during the second fiscal quarter of 2023.
Word for word“Additionally, during the second fiscal quarter of 2023, we executed a strategic realignment and reorganization plan focusing on podcast operations and rationalizing our content portfolio.” 20-F for 2024
Our summaryAccrued severance costs from the December 2023 reduction in force were settled by the end of 2024, with no similar material reorganization events in 2024.
Word for word“As of December 31, 2024, we had substantially settled our obligations related to the reduction in force.” 20-F for 2024
Spotify has filed no restructuring notice (Form 8-K, Item 2.05) since 2016. Companies file one only for a cut they judge material, so many announced layoffs never appear as one. This page shows what the company reported to the SEC, not news reports or state layoff notices.
Read from Spotify’s annual reports (20-F for 2025, 20-F for 2024, 20-F for 2023) and the financial data it files with the SEC, as of 2026-02-10. Every quotation is word for word from the filing linked beside it; how these pages are built and checked. The full record is in its company data sheet.