Spotify hits 130 million subscribers amid Covid-19 Published duration 29 April Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic

image copyright Getty image caption Spotify has revealed its quarterly financial results

Spotify has reached 130 million paid subscribers, despite initial concerns over how the Covid-19 crisis could affect listening habits.

The music-streaming platform says it gained six million subscribers in the first quarter of 2020.

It said the figures fell into the higher end of what had been predicted before the coronavirus outbreak.

But analysts have warned Spotify's quarterly results may not be as positive as the company suggests.

Spotify said a double-digit rise in quarterly revenue had helped offset a decline in ad sales, which contributed less than 10% of its overall revenue.

“Despite all the turbulence around the world, we hit pretty much all the metrics,” chief executive Daniel Ek told Reuters.

The platform had begun to see a fall in user numbers in February among countries hit hardest by the virus, including Spain and Italy, he said.

But there had been a "meaningful recovery" over the past month.

Active users

The company said monthly active users had risen 31% in the quarter.

But Midia Research analyst Mark Mulligan told BBC News: "Checking an app once a month is not active usage.

"So daily active users and weekly active users are where scrutiny needs applying.

"Spotify says that the ratio of daily active users relative to monthly active users was 'strong' in the quarter."

"However, strong does not mean up - and the fact it was reported as higher than 12 months ago but with no reference to last quarter suggests ‘strong’ may not be that useful an adjective here."

Radio listening

Mr Mulligan also noted 28% of consumers in the US and 25% in the UK had been using their usual commute listening time now for other activities.

"It is after all possible to have falling streams but a growing user base, ie more people signing up but using the service less," he added.