In what year was Spotify founded?

Spotify was founded in 2006. Swedish entrepreneurs Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon established the company in Stockholm, creating a service intended to make licensed music streaming more convenient than unauthorized file-sharing networks.

The idea developed during the aftermath of Napster’s shutdown and the popularity of Kazaa. Ek argued that piracy could not be solved by laws alone; a legal product also had to be fast, easy to use, and appealing to listeners. That principle shaped Spotify’s early design and business model.

Spotify was founded in 2006 but did not launch its public music service until October 2008. It initially rolled out in several European markets, including Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Finland, and Norway. The service combined a free, advertising-supported tier with paid subscriptions.

A common mix-up is confusing the founding year with the launch year. Spotify’s United States launch came later, in July 2011, after the company negotiated licensing agreements with major record labels. Martin Lorentzon remained the other key co-founder alongside Ek.