Spotify Technology S.A.: Why Spotify’s investor day needs to be about a narrative reset

Research evidence excerpt

Spotify Technology S.A.: Why Spotify’s investor day needs to be about a narrative reset

Equity Research

U.S. Media

19 May 2026

Spotify Technology S.A.

Why Spotify’s investor day needs

to be about a narrative reset

While Spotify has room to improve on long-term financial SPOT OVERWEIGHT

guidance at the investor day, valuation upside will need U.S. Media NEUTRAL

better articulation of long-term strategy. Price Target USD 500.00

Price (18-May-26) USD 445.01

Potential Upside/Downside +12.4%

Source: Bloomberg, Barclays Research

Overview

Kannan VenkateshwarSpotify’s upcoming investor day this week (21st May) could be an important catalyst for the

+1 212 528 7054

entire music value chain given that its timing coincides with ongoing investor debate about

kannan.venkat@barclays.com

structural impact of AI on the music business. In our opinion, while medium- and long-term BCI, US

financial guidance updates will be important, what will be even more important is

Siyuan (Cindy) Huang, CFAmanagement’s articulation of a deliberate monetization plan for AI and concrete milestones to

+1 212 526 7952

measure progress. At this point, the AI narrative is nebulous and tends to shift in shape

siyuan.huang@barclays.com

depending on the last headline, which risks the company losing control of the story without a BCI, US

firm outline of its plan.

Lauren Bonham

Company will need to define the AI narrative instead of seeming to be reactive to AI: While +1 212 526 3856

the company has already launched some AI features on the service and has talked up potential lauren.bonham@barclays.com

BCI, USfuture opportunities, the missing piece thus far has been an articulation of the revenue

opportunity arising from AI-based services. There have been startups such as Suno and Soda Anika Mittle