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Spotify, the popular European music service, is finally crossing the pond, The Post has learned.
After trying to crack the US market for more than a year, Spotify is close to a deal with one major music company in the US and has gained the support of at least one other, according to two music-industry sources.
The Luxembourg-based music service is days away from signing a deal with is Sony Music, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
“Spotify is launching in the US, for sure,” one music executive said. “They’ve got the deals now.”
A Spotify spokesman told The Post, “Negotiations are progressing well, but [we have] nothing to confirm at this stage.”
The company, co-founded by Chief Executive Daniel Ek, has had trouble nailing down a launch date in the US after struggling to secure deals with major record labels. Spotify first hoped to launch in 2009, then by the end of last year.
Spotify users can opt for free accounts with advertising or pay $10 a month for an all-you-can-eat service without ads.
However, the record companies are fearful of business models that give music away for free, especially since plenty of ad-supported music services have failed in the past.
The labels would prefer upfront payments — estimated to top $100 million — and have urged Spotify to focus on the subscription model.
Napster’s Sean Parker sits on the board of Spotify, according to blog TechCrunch. The company, which operates in the UK, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Finland, also counts Li Ka-shing of Hong Kong, one of the richest men in the world, as an investor.
The service has piqued the interest of both Apple and Google, which have held talks with Spotify about partnerships.