Spotify launched in the United States in 2011. The American launch took place on July 14, expanding the Swedish streaming service into one of the world's largest music markets.
Spotify was founded in Stockholm in 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, then launched in Sweden and several European countries in 2008. Its U.S. arrival followed years of negotiations with record labels over licensing, royalties, and access to major music catalogs.
The U.S. service initially included a six-month, ad-supported trial with unlimited listening. This date is sometimes confused with Spotify's 2008 European debut or its later expansion into other English-speaking markets such as Australia and New Zealand in 2012. The U.S. launch helped accelerate the shift from music downloads toward on-demand streaming.