If Spotify’s announcement that co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek is stepping down and naming his successors looks familiar, it’s because Netflix did the exact same thing nearly three years ago. And just as Netflix thrived in its post-Reed Hastings years, Spotify is well situated for its post-Ek era, according to experts.  

On Jan. 19, 2023, Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings announced his transition to executive chairman and the appointment of co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters. The new leaders had been prepared for their new roles. In the two and a half years before Netflix’s announcement, Hastings had delegated more responsibilities to Sarandos and Peters, who had each been with Netflix for 15 years. The move to executive chairman, Hastings noted in a blog post, had been taken by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos before him.  

Strikingly similar news arrived on Tuesday (Sept. 30) when Spotify announced that Ek will become executive chairman and be succeeded by co-CEOs Alex Norström and Gustav Söderström. Like Sarandos and Peters, Spotify’s new co-CEOs were groomed to take the reins from a founder/CEO who had become synonymous with the company’s brand. And like Netflix’s thoughtful succession plan, Spotify’s effort to replace Ek was a long-term project. Woody Marshall, lead independent director on Spotify’s board, said in a statement that the board “has been working closely with [Ek] on the evolution of Spotify’s leadership structure for several years.”  

The similarities shouldn’t be surprising. As J.P. Morgan analysts noted in a Sept. 30 note to investors, Sarandos holds a seat on Spotify’s board of directors, and the companies have a common investor in venture capital firm Technology Crossover Ventures, which provided early-stage growth capital and continues to own shares in both companies. These relationships “should help ensure a smooth transition and continued strong execution” at Spotify, analysts wrote.  

The market’s reactions to the Spotify and Netflix succession plans were different, though. Netflix’s share price jumped 7.8%, though notably, the announcement coincided with the company’s Q4 2022 quarterly earnings release, in which the company’s net subscriber additions exceeded its guidance. On Tuesday, as the market absorbed Spotify’s news in the absence of any positive financial data, its share price fell 4.2%, shaving off approximately $6.2 billion of market value.   

Is a change in CEOs worth a $6 billion hit to Spotify’s value? If Netflix’s trajectory since Hastings’ departure is any indication, Spotify will continue to rule the audio subscription business. Since Hastings stepped down as CEO, Netflix’s share price has risen 240%.  

Sarandos and Peters have increased Netflix’s market dominance and taken the company in new directions. Netflix, long a subscription-only platform, successfully grew the ad-supported tier it launched in 2022. The growth of its advertising business has enabled its foray into live sports, such as NFL games that include the traditional commercial breaks, even for subscribers to Netflix’s ad-free plans. The company is also financially healthier, with current margins and profitability better than during Hastings’ tenure as CEO. 

Norström and Söderström could follow a similar trajectory of measured gambles and financial discipline. Under their leadership, Spotify will — probably, based on public comments — launch a superfan tier and unlock additional consumer spending. Like Netflix, Spotify will become a more global service and gain subscriptions in developing markets that currently lean toward free, ad-supported listening. The duo is also inheriting a company that has vastly improved its margins over the last couple of years, and which can, experts predict, raise prices even further without alienating current or future subscribers.  

Equity analysts believe Spotify’s new leaders are up for the challenge. Guggenheim analysts called Norström and Söderström, who have been with Spotify for 14 and 16 years, respectively, “proven leaders given the sustained business momentum over the past several years.” CFRA said the co-CEOs “could affect the next stage” of Spotify’s expansion and called Tuesday’s pullback in the share price “a buying opportunity.” J.P. Morgan analysts noted that Spotify has been running smoothly under Norström and Söderström’s role as co-presidents and co-CEOs-in-waiting. The company’s valuation attests as much: In the last two years, Spotify’s share price has risen 245%.

Like Hastings, Ek played the role of innovative founder who developed a new category of streaming entertainment. But as Sarandos and Peters have shown, founder-led tech companies don’t have to suffer when the founder/CEO steps down. 

When you’re ready to take a break from Taylor Swift’s new album The Life of a Showgirl, why not listen to some excellent new songs from your favorite queer artists? Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.

From Young Miko’s slinky new single to Kali Uchis’ deluxe edition team-up with Mariah the Scientist, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:

Young Miko, “Meiomi”

Young Miko has made it a habit of disrupting the Latin space with her own, unique POV on reggaeton. But no song disrupts her own sound quite as well as “Meiomi,” a sensual, slithering ode to sex, desire and strippers, all packed into one tantalizingly spare song. Miko’s voice sounds incredible as she instructs her soon-to-be-lover on how exactly to please her. It’s raw, it’s well-made, and it’s a fabulous edition to Young Miko’s discography.

Kali Uchis feat. Mariah the Scientist, “Pretty Promises”

Amongst the new deluxe edition of Kali Uchis’ excellent album Sincerely, the neo-soul star teams back up with R&B singer Mariah the Scientist for another home run track, “Pretty Promises.” Throughout the song’s undulating, fluid melodies, Kali and Mariah trade verses about the importance of loyalty in love, all while maintaining their own otherworldly vocals in the process.

Honey Dijon feat. Chlöe, “The Nightlife”

Honey Dijon remains ahead of the curve with her latest release, “The Nightlife,” featuring R&B phenom Chlöe giving a stellar vocal performance to one of Dijon’s meticulously crafted productions. On this mid-tempo ode to the club scene, Dijon and Chlöe create an immediate vibe with their collaboration, toeing the line perfectly between the producer’s more dance-ready cuts and the singer’s moody vocals.

The Last Dinner Party, “Second Best”

In the latest cut off their forthcoming album From the Pyre, The Last Dinner Party are done settling for a silver medal. “Second Best” sees the group skewering a love interest who wants to have their cake and eat it, too, with lead singer Abigail Morris wondering why she’s been relegated to the role of mistress in her latest relationship. After she realizes that “he’s waiting downstairs,” Morris switches gears, angrily asking her partner over ratcheting-up guitars “what do I do to be better for you?”

Ink, Big Buskin’

After helping pen breakout hits for massive artists like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Latto, songwriter Ink is ready to add a hyphen to her title and become a singer-songwriter. Big Buskin’, her new solo project, sees Ink going back to her days of street performing in Atlanta, as she lets her Southern roots bleed into songs like “Comin’ Back,” “God’s Been Drinkin’” and more. All the while, Ink’s pen remains fully intact, and she crafts gorgeous lyrics that prove a new star has arrived.

Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:

The Gospel Music Association has opened a new chapter in its mission of honoring the artists who have shaped Christian and Gospel music, and in helping to promote the music’s message of faith.

The Museum of Christian & Gospel Music has opened its doors today (Friday, Oct. 3) at 402 Commerce Street, establishing the first permanent home in Nashville dedicated to Christian and Gospel music.

The 11,000-square-feet new museum, which will also house the Mike Curb GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, now stands alongside other Nashville music museums including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the National Museum of African-American Music, and the Musicians Hall of Fame, while telling the story of Christian and Gospel artists and the impact the genre continues to have.

The museum, which has been four years in the making, tells a sweeping story, connecting more than 500 historical moments and 300 artists, using videos, photos, artifacts, and interactive displays.

“When we say ‘Gospel music,’ that doesn’t define it musically. That defines the content, the message, and that’s the tie that binds,” says Gospel Music Association president Jackie Patillo, one of the industry visionaries who has spearheaded and championed the development of the museum. Indeed, the museum highlights artists spreading a Gospel message through musical styles ranging from country and Southern Gospel to pop, rap/hip-hop, Latin, soul and more.

Inside, visitors are immediately greeted by pieces including Amy Grant’s leopard-print jacket from her 1985 album Unguarded and Brandon Lake’s patchwork “Coat of Many Colors” from his 2023 tour. The “Radiant in the Spotlight” display, located in the Dove Theater, will include gowns worn by artists including Dottie Rambo, Natalie Grant and CeCe Winans. Elsewhere, there is the gown Lauren Daigle wore to the 2019 GMA Dove Awards, and the full-length floral gown Carrie Underwood wore during her Easter special, filmed just down the street at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Other cases highlight memorabilia from Gospel music legend Andraé Crouch, CCM rock band Stryper’s Michael Sweet, and the late singer-songwriter Keith Green. Green’s guitar — as well as note pages of unfinished lyrics — sits alongside the shirt he wore on his last album cover, before his untimely death in 1982 at age 28. Alan Jackson’s family Bible, guitar, coat and hat from his Precious Memories project (which earned a GMA Dove Award for best country album) are also on display.

The museum’s executive director Steve Gilreath visited over 30 museums in the process of curating and designing the space. He spent the past year searching out and selecting items to highlight in the museum.

“I got some calls right away from people that were like, ‘I want you to come over and clean out my attic or clean out my garage,’” Gilreath recalls. “We’re not cleaning out your attic. I want to take three things.”

Attendees can also engage with the music and artists on a personal level, thanks to interactive spaces that allow them to record their own vocals on classic songs, or even leave video messages to artists to share how songs have impacted them. Listening stations allow attendees to hear many of the genre’s classic songs, while digital video panels throughout the space feature 18 artists, among them Steven Curtis Chapman, Dr. Bobby Jones, and Bill and Gloria Gaither, discussing topics including recording and songwriting.

“I am thrilled that we will now have a museum celebrating Christian and Gospel music right here in Nashville. This space will not only honor the trailblazers who came before, but it will also inspire future generations to carry the message of faith and hope through music,” industry trailblazer Michael W. Smith said in a statement. A hand-painted grand piano he’s played on tours is displayed in the museum.

Some of Gilreath’s favorite mementos in the museum are from DeGarmo & Key’s Eddie DeGarmo. “He is such a legend and they took such great care with their artifacts. He had the guitar and the long duster jackets and all these great items.”

Some displays even touch on a few humorous moments, such as the guitar featured on the cover of 60-time GMA Dove Awards winner Chapman’s 1992 Great Adventure album. The guitar has a hole in it from when one of Chapman’s GMA Dove Awards trophies fell from the top shelf of his studio and landed on the guitar (the trophy itself is also on display alongside his guitar).

“As one whose life has been shaped by the power and message of Christian and Gospel music since I was a boy, I couldn’t be more excited about a physical place to celebrate the history and impact of this great music and the artists who’ve made it what it is!” Chapman says in a statement.

With the museum’s opening, the Mike Curb GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame also has a physical home for the first time. Established in 1971, the Hall has inducted 194 icons, from initial inductees Jim “Pappy” Waites and G.T. “Dad” Speer to modern legends. Visitors can explore a digital timeline of inductees, read bios for each inductee, and, in the Dove Theater, watch highlights from Dove Awards ceremonies dating back to 1969.

Throughout the building, there’s a strong sense of continuity between history and present-day artistry. One corner showcases a set of green glass iced tea cups once sold by the Blackwood Brothers, considered an early example of music merchandising. Another honors the rare trio of artists inducted into the Gospel, Country, and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame: Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley.

Family groups such as The Winans, The Rambos, and We the Kingdom are honored, as are pioneers like the Fisk Jubilee Singers, whose performances in Europe helped Nashville earn the title “Music City.” The Oak Ridge Boys’ Southern Gospel roots are underscored by family photos provided by the granddaughter of founding member Wally Fowler. The Divine Inspiration area highlights artists who became pastors, including robes from Bishop Marvin Sapp (a GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame 2018 inductee) and others.

The museum captures numerous pivotal turning points in the industry. Visitors can see the recording console from music producer Chris Christian’s Goldmine Studio, where Amy Grant’s Age to Age and White Heart albums helped define contemporary Christian pop in the 1980s.

“When I reached out to Chris, he showed me video after video of news coverage of the whole formation of the ‘Christian pop’ genre,” says Gilreath. “I’ve been in this industry 40 years and had not heard that term. It was there for about five years until John Styll started CCM Magazine, and pretty much overnight, the industry switched from being called ‘Christian Pop’ to getting called ‘CCM.’”

Exhibits also spotlight Christian and Gospel music’s vast cultural reach, with displays funded by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey honoring films and television shows like The Chosen, For King & Country’s Unsung Hero, and Touched by an Angel.

Beyond exhibitions, the museum is designed as a space for community. It includes a coffee shop, retail space, and the 100-seat Cal Turner Hall, which will host writers’ workshops, symposiums, and intimate concerts. In September, the museum held an early preview event, featuring GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame member Russ Taff as the first performer in its Legacy Series of performances.

“The Cal Turner Hall was very important because even though our space is limited, to be able to have programming that is relevant and nurturing and educational, and to be able to have celebrations,” Patillo says.

The opening is timed to coincide with one of the biggest weeks on the Christian music calendar, with the 56th annual GMA Dove Awards set for Oct. 7 at the nearby Bridgestone Arena. The museum recognizes not only the genre’s history but its presence and nods to its future. Many of the artists featured in the museum — including Winans, Lake and Daigle — are among this year’s top GMA Dove Awards nominees.

“The Museum of Christian and Gospel Music is more than just a building — it’s a place where stories of faith, perseverance, and the power of music come alive,” Winans said in a statement. “The heart of Gospel music is to uplift and point people to Jesus, and now we have a beautiful museum where that impact can be celebrated and remembered for years to come.”

Megan Thee Stallion is in her lover era as the rapper previewed some new music on social media on Wednesday (Oct. 1).

“Wake up lol #kissinyou,” she wrote while seemingly hinting at the upcoming song’s title.

The single features a sample loop of Total’s “Kissin’ You,” which arrived as part of the R&B trio’s self-titled debut album in 1996 and is produced by Raphael Saadiq.

A version of the Total-sampling beat appeared to go viral on TikTok and Tina Snow got wind of her Hotties imploring her to hop on it, and she made it happen within the last month. Although a release date still isn’t official.

The clip finds Meg rocking camo pants, tan boots and a wool hat while dancing to the track in the studio. It’s only a 25-second preview, featuring mostly the sample and Meg rapping, “My man, my man, my man, my baby, my baby… Spoiling me, driving me crazy.”

Of course, Meg appears to be referencing her NBA star boo, Klay Thompson. The Houston rapper and Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter publicly launched their relationship with a red carpet debut at the Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in July.

“I have never dated somebody so kind,” Meg gushed to Page Six. “This is my first relationship where I’ve ever been with somebody who’s genuinely a nice person, and he makes me genuinely happy.”

Fans were also excited to see the Houston Hottie back in the studio, hoping that a new Megan era is on the horizon. “Perfect time to drop,” one fan replied on X. However, it’s been a pretty quiet year for Megan Thee Stallion on the music side, as she’s only released her “Whenever” single back in April.