Spotify Contributes $150,000 To Trump’s Second-Term Inauguration Ceremony

The news of the donation was first reported by Sweden's Dagens Nyheter newspaper. As per Bloomberg, the streaming giant also hosted a brunch the day before the ceremony, attended by prominent Trump-supporting podcasters associated with the platform, including Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, and Tim Pool. Bloomberg described the event as a celebration of "the power of podcasts in this election."

Spotify, which recently announced a revenue increase to $4 billion amid a year marked by layoffs, royalty reduction strategies, and accusations of using "ghost artists" on playlists, issued a statement about its donation. The company stated:"The donation aims to continue to expand our presence in Washington D.C., while furthering the goals of our platform and creators. It is in line with the work we do in capitals around the world to advance our policy issues, regardless of who is in power."

Regarding the brunch, a Spotify spokesperson told Bloomberg:"Spotify has long hosted events in Washington, D.C., and other capitals worldwide, bringing together political leaders, media figures, and industry peers from across the political spectrum. These engagements are business as usual."

In December, reports revealed that Apple and Amazon also contributed $1 million each to finance Trump’s inauguration. Both companies are major competitors of Spotify in the music streaming market. Together, these three platforms account for over 55% of global music streams.

Trump's inauguration, marking the start of his second term, is believed to have been the most expensive in U.S. history. The Guardian reported that fundraisers aimed to collect $200 million for the event. Similarly, his 2017 inauguration committee raised $90 million for his first ceremony.