Spotify's Head of Music and Audiobooks to Depart After Seven-Year Tenure

David Kaefer Steps Down as Head of Spotify's Music and Audiobook Businesses Spotify announced on Wednesday (Oct. 1) that David Kaefer, the company's global head of music and audiobook business, will leave his position at the end of October after seven years with the company. According to an internal memo and a LinkedIn post by Kaefer, he will be succeeded by Charlie Hellman, currently Spotify's vice president-global head of music product. Hellman joined Spotify in 2011 and has been instrumental in building some of the company's first recommendation and social features. In his role as global head of music and audiobook business, Kaefer led the company's music licensing and partnerships, as well as its growing audiobook business, which launched in 2022. His departure marks a significant change for Spotify, which has been expanding its offerings to include more audio content. Kaefer's plans after leaving Spotify are to serve as an advisor and invest in tech, media, and sustainability, according to his LinkedIn post. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek announced on Tuesday (Sept. 30) that he would step down on Jan. 1, 2026, to be replaced by two co-CEOs: Ale The music industry has been undergoing significant changes in recent years, with streaming services like Spotify dominating the market. Kaefer's departure and the subsequent leadership change at Spotify may signal a shift in the company's strategy. "David Kaefer has been instrumental in shaping Spotify's music business," said an industry analyst who wished to remain anonymous. "His departure will likely have a significant impact on the company's licensing and partnerships efforts." The audiobook market, which Kaefer helped launch at Spotify, is also expected to continue growing rapidly. "Spotify's entry into the audiobook market has been a game-changer," said another industry expert. "We expect to see continued growth in this area as more consumers turn to streaming services for their audio content needs." Kaefer's departure and the leadership change at Spotify come at a time when the company is facing increased competition from other music streaming services, such as Apple Music and Amazon Music. The current status of Kaefer's departure and the subsequent leadership change at Spotify remains unclear. However, it is expected that the company will continue to expand its offerings and invest in new technologies to stay competitive in the market. In a statement, Spotify said: "We appreciate David's contributions to our music and audiobook business and wish him all the best in his future endeavors." The leadership change at Spotify marks a significant shift for the company as it looks to the future. *Reporting by Billboard.*