Coverage dated September 29, 2025

Spotify founder Daniel Ek steps down as CEO to become executive chair

Headline from CBS News

Since Ek founded Spotify about two decades ago, the platform's rise has helped transformed the music business and paved the way for modern streaming.

CBS News's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Read the reports

Reports & sources

17 articles, oldest first.

Forbes
Why Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Is Stepping Down After Nearly Two Decades (opens Forbes)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Forbes's feed description
Daniel Ek, the billionaire founder of the $150 music streamer, is exiting Spotify’s top role as he is increasingly backing moonshot tech companies
NPR
Spotify's Daniel Ek announces that he'll step aside as CEO (opens NPR)
Published Sep 29, 2025
NPR's feed description
The founder of the world's biggest music streaming service says he'll remain at the company as Executive Chairman, and will be replaced by two co-CEOs.
Engadget
Daniel Ek is stepping down as Spotify CEO (opens Engadget)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Engadget's feed description
Spotify CEO and Founder Daniel Ek will be stepping down as CEO as transitioning to executive chairman.
CBS News
Spotify founder Daniel Ek steps down as CEO to become executive chair (opens CBS News)
Published Sep 29, 2025
CBS News's feed description
Since Ek founded Spotify about two decades ago, the platform's rise has helped transformed the music business and paved the way for modern streaming.
WHEC Rochester
Spotify founder steps down from CEO role (opens WHEC Rochester)
Published Sep 29, 2025
WHEC Rochester's feed description
Spotify has announced that founder Daniel Ek is stepping down as CEO to become executive chairman. The company, based in Stockholm, says Chief Product and Technology Officer Gustav Söderström and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström will become co-CEOs.
Digital Journal
Spotify founder Daniel Ek to give up CEO role (opens Digital Journal)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Digital Journal's feed description
Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek will step down as CEO on January 1 and become executive chairman.
The Hollywood Reporter
Spotify Names Co-CEOs as Daniel Ek Transitions to Executive Chair Role (opens The Hollywood Reporter)
Published Sep 29, 2025
The Hollywood Reporter's feed description
Spotify named co-CEOs as founder Daniel Ek transitions to the role of executive chairman.
Rolling Stone
Spotify's Daniel Ek Ditches CEO Title for 'More Hands On' Executive Chairman Role (opens Rolling Stone)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Rolling Stone's feed description
Spotify's Daniel Ek will step aside as CEO and take up a new role as executive chairman, with a particular focus on the company's future.
Variety
Daniel Ek to Step Aside as Spotify CEO to Become Executive Chairman (opens Variety)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Variety's feed description
Spotify founder Daniel Ek is formally ending his tenure as CEO of the audio-streaming giant, transitioning to the role of executive chairman in January.
Deadline
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek Transitions To Executive Chair (opens Deadline)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Deadline's feed description
Daniel Ek, the founder and CEO of Spotify, is moving upstairs to become the music streaming giant's executive chair.
The Guardian
Spotify founder Daniel Ek steps down from CEO role (opens The Guardian)
Published Sep 29, 2025
The Guardian's feed description
Ek founded Stockholm-based music streaming company nearly two decades ago and will stay on as executive chair
Fortune
Spotify founder Daniel Ek once said he was the 'least powerful person' at the company. Here's how he built it into a $145 billion music empire (opens Fortune)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Fortune's feed description
Ek, who cofounded the company in 2006, is stepping down as CEO.
Entrepreneur
Spotify's Longtime CEO Daniel Ek Is Stepping Down: 'To Be Clear, I'm Not Leaving' (opens Entrepreneur)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Entrepreneur's feed description
After 19 years at the music giant, Daniel Ek is passing on the CEO title to two company veterans.
Observer
Spotify Hops Aboard the Co-CEO Trend as Founder Daniel Ek Steps Back (opens Observer)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Observer's feed description
Spotify founder Daniel Ek steps down as CEO to become executive chairman, with Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström taking over as co-CEOs.
Los Angeles Times
Spotify's co-founder Daniel Ek to step down as CEO after nearly two decades (opens Los Angeles Times)
Published Sep 29, 2025
Los Angeles Times's feed description
Spotify on Tuesday announced co-founder Daniel Ek will be stepping down as CEO and transitioning to executive chairman. Co-presidents Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström will take the helm next year as co-CEOs.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.