I’m A judge has officially dismissed a lawsuit against Spotify that accused the streaming giant of reducing songwriter royalties after adding audiobooks to its premium subscription bundle.
The lawsuit, filed months ago, alleged that Spotify’s move to bundle audiobooks with music led to lower payouts for songwriters. However, on Wednesday, the judge ruled in favor of Spotify, effectively ending the case.
This decision comes amid growing concerns from artists, publishers, and songwriters about how streaming platforms calculate and distribute royalties. While Spotify has not publicly commentedon the dismissal, the ruling is a significant win for the company as it continues expanding into audiobooks and podcasts alongside its core music offerings.
A Controversial Move
When Spotify introduced audiobooks into its premium tier, critics argued that it restructured subscription revenue, potentially reducing the share allocated to songwriters. The lawsuit sought to challenge this, but the court ultimately sided with Spotify’s business model.
Despite the lawsuit’s dismissal, industry insiders expect continued scrutiny over how streaming platforms compensate songwriters in the evolving digital music landscape.
For now, Spotify can move forward with its audiobook expansion—but the battle over fair music royalties is far from over.
