Daniel Ek

Co-Founder and CEO
Spotify

A serial entrepreneur and technologist who started his first company at the age of 14, the Spotify co-founder’s love of music -- the guitar in particular -- led him to innovate in the entertainment and fashion community (Stardoll) to the buying and selling of unique items (Tradera, acquired by eBay) to advertising (Tradera, snatched up by TradeDoubler). Also: Challenge him to a game of FIFA championship soccer at your peril.

Posts With Daniel Ek

More D10 Speakers: Ellison, Meeker, Myhrvold, Along With Pixar and Visa!

Kara Swisher in D10 on April 9 at 2:49 pm PT

Speakers? We got your D10 speakers.

Spotify’s Special Projects Head Shakil Khan Moves to Path to Do Same

Kara Swisher in News on March 30 at 5:00 am PT

The fix-it guy for the popular music service takes his tools over to the personal social network.

Here Come the First D10 Speakers: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Entrepreneur Sean Parker, Zynga’s Mark Pincus and More on the Red Hot Seat

Kara Swisher in D10 on March 9 at 10:40 am PT

Speakers? We got your speakers right here.

Why Rhapsody Is (Probably) Bigger Than Spotify — In the U.S.

Peter Kafka in Media on January 12 at 3:00 am PT

Jon Irwin’s music service has been at it for 10 years, and it doesn’t get anything like the attention that the new guys get. But, at the very least, he is holding is own.

Spotify Tries a Facebook. Smart.

Peter Kafka in Media on November 30, 2011 at 9:51 am PT

Nope, it’s not Music Everywhere. If you listen to music on Spotify, you’ll now be able to use a lot of new features, built by outside developers. Very Zuckerbergian.

You Know What’s Really Cool? Spotify.

In order to create the next revolution in digital music I believe that you must BOTH meet and exceed the bar set by Napster a decade ago. You guys have finally done it.

Sean Parker, in an August 25, 2009, email to Daniel Ek and Shakil Khan of Spotify

Spotify Says: Reed Hastings Loves Lady Gaga, and Mark Zuckerberg Hearts Green Day

Liz Gannes in Media on July 25, 2011 at 12:29 pm PT

You have to love that tech leaders like Reed Hastings and Mark Zuckerberg are partaking in Spotify’s public playlist feature and revealing some of their mutual favorite tunes.

Chill Out! Spotify on Facebook Is Cool, Not a Game Changer.

Peter Kafka in Media on May 25, 2011 at 12:56 pm PT

A deal with Facebook would give Spotify a nice promotional platform, but it will still be promoting the same service: A limited amount of free music, with a subscription upsell. It’s unlikely to make Steve Jobs tremble.

Spotify Still Hiring–But Not Launching Yet–In the U.S.

Peter Kafka in Media on March 25, 2011 at 5:20 am PT

Most Americans still can’t get access to Spotify. But some of them can get jobs from the European music streaming service, which is continuing to staff up its New York office in advance of a U.S. launch. By the time the company gets here, it may find new competition from Google.

Spotify Toots Its Own Horn: One Million Paying Subscribers

Peter Kafka in Media on March 7, 2011 at 6:01 pm PT

Nope, Spotify still isn’t in the U.S. yet. But the European streaming music service has more paying customer than any of its rivals, and it wants to pat itself on the back.