Spot Stock: What's the Deal?

Alright, Spotify's Q3 2025 results are out. Yawn. Another earnings call, another round of corporate blah blah designed to make investors feel warm and fuzzy. But let's be real, are they actually fixing anything, or just shuffling the same old problems around?

The "Revolution" That Wasn't

"Spotify’s platform revolutionized music listening forever when we launched in 2008." Oh, give me a break. Revolutionized? They made it easier to steal music without feeling guilty about torrenting. That's about it. I mean, I get it. They're trying to paint this picture of innovation, but let's not forget that artists are still getting screwed while execs swim in Scrooge McDuck money bins.

And 713 million users? Okay, great. But how many are actually paying subscribers versus freeloaders on family plans? And how much of that subscriber growth is just from bundling Spotify with some phone plan nobody asked for? Details, people! I need details.

Musical Chairs in the C-Suite

So, Daniel Ek is stepping down as CEO to become Executive Chairman. Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström are now Co-CEOs. What is this, a clown show? Two CEOs? Sounds like a recipe for infighting and indecision. I'm sure there is a good reason for this offcourse, but I ain't buying it.

Here's the real translation: Ek is bailing before the ship hits the iceberg, but wants to keep his hands on the wheel. And these two new guys? They're either sacrificial lambs or puppets. Place your bets now. Will this actually change anything? Or will it just be the same old song and dance, different dancers?

Speaking of dancing, I had to deal with the most infuriating automated phone system yesterday when trying to dispute a charge from my freakin' gym. Press 1 for billing, press 2 for membership... only to be disconnected after 15 minutes. It's like these companies want you to give up. Is that the future Spotify is building too?

Wall Street's Wishful Thinking

Analysts are still tripping over themselves to slap "overweight" ratings on SPOT. JPMorgan Chase raised their price target to $805. Wells Fargo to $750. Are these guys even listening to the same earnings call I am? Or are they just paid to pump up the stock price? Top Wall Street Forecasters Revamp Spotify Expectations Ahead Of Q3 Earnings - Spotify Technology (NYSE:SPOT)

And some analyst downgraded the stock from Buy to Neutral... but raised the price target? Does that even make sense? It's like saying "I don't think this car is worth buying, but I'll pay more for it."

They're expecting earnings of $2.14 per share, up from $1.45 last year. Good for them, I guess. But what's the cost of that growth? More intrusive ads? More algorithm-driven playlists that sound like they were composed by a robot? Because that's the direction it feels like they're heading.

Can't Polish a Turd...

Look, Spotify might be raking in the cash right now. But underneath the surface, there's a fundamental problem: they're still squeezing artists dry and delivering a product that feels increasingly soulless. This management shakeup? Analyst upgrades? It's all just window dressing.

And honestly, I don't see anything in this report that inspires confidence. They expect us to believe this nonsense, and honestly...

So, What's the Real Story?

The music industry needs a real disruptor, not another company playing the same tired tune. Spotify had its chance, and they blew it. Now it's just a matter of time before something better comes along and eats their lunch.