This document analyzes the online music streaming industry and provides recommendations for Spotify. It finds that the industry has moderately high rivalry among competitors, moderate threat of new entry, and high supplier and buyer power. Spotify's current business model is economically unsustainable. The document recommends that Spotify modify its subscription model, pursue platformization by expanding music integration, and collaborate with music and entertainment companies to differentiate itself and increase revenues.
Spotify Differentiation Through Platformization & Collaboration
1. Karen Duong, Emily Hsu, Shuying Huang, Kara Ing, Vincent Tsao, Menyee Zheng
BUAD 497
2. Goal: Find out how Spotify needs to differentiate
Five Forces
Sustainability
Recommendations
3. What is an Online Streaming Music Platform?
Access to millions
of songs
Subscription &
Ad-based model
Social Networking
& Playlists
Introduction
Listen to tracks
online
Search & Discover
No downloads
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
7. Rivalry- Moderately High
• Slightly differentiated functions
• Many competitors but not purely
competing on price
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
8. Threat of Entry - Moderate
• Easy to replicate
• Structural Barriers
• Licensure agreements
• High MES required for profit
• High switching costs
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
9. Supplier Power - High
• “Big Four” Record Label Oligopoly
• Copyright law, statutory licensing
• Unified negotiating front
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
10. Buyer Power - High
• Listeners and advertisers
• Low willingness to pay
• Low switching cost
• The effect of increased customization
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
11. Many Substitutes
• YouTube, iTunes, CDs, radios, music piracy
• Low switching costs between streaming
platforms
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
12. Few Complements
• Increased exposure through live music
• Computers and mobile devices
• But, not affordable for all
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
15. Potential to Thrive
• Well differentiated from Internet radio and
on-demand music services
• Further performance improvements
• Tiered subscription system
• Platinum service level users
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
17. Goal & Impediment for Spotify’s Future
• Ultimate goal:
- Increase subscription revenues
• Impediment:
- Current business model
growth of user base big losses
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
19. Modifying the current business model
•
•
•
•
•
More song plays allowed = More you pay
A new tiered subscription system
Spotify Platinum $25/month
Family subscription plans
Share music in a household
simultaneously and economically
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
21. Platformization: Music as Water
What is “platformization”?
– Existing integration in
cars, TVs, and smart media
products
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
22. Recommended Platformization
• Secure & expand integration - existing platforms
• Explore new platforms
- Gym media systems
- Game consoles
- More intelligent systems
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
23. Why Platformization?
• Ever-expanding range of end points
• Value added by “access everywhere”
• Scale and find more paid subscribers
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
24. Collaborate with Players in the Music Scene
• The idea
• Existing collaboration
Facebook
Urban Outfitters
Coca-Cola
Soundrop
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
25. Recommended Collaboration
Clubs, party planners venues
DJ interface online streaming songs to mix
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
26. Continuing Need to Differentiate
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
27. Key Obstacle: Advantages that Spotify has can be replicated by competitors
Key Strategies: Modifying the current model, Platformization, and Collaboration
Introduction
5 Forces
Sustainability
Recommend
Conclusion
28. Karen Duong, Emily Hsu, Shuying Huang, Kara Ing, Vincent Tsao, Menyee Zheng
BUAD 497
29. Q&A
What is an Online Music Streaming Platform?
Online Music Streaming Platforms
Spotify UI
Spotify by the Numbers
Subscriber Growth Graph
Streaming Music Future Graph
Summary
Five Forces (Summary)
Rivalry
Threat of Entry
Supplier Power
Buyer Power
Substitutes
Complements
Recommendations
Goal & Impediment for Spotify’s Future
Spotify Increasing Revenues & Costs
Modifying the Current Business Model
Exploring New Opportunities
Platformization: Music as Water
Recommended Platformization
Why Platformization
Collaborate with Players in the Music Space
Recommended Collaboration
Sustainability
Economically Unsustainable
Potential to Thrive