A book by Nick Holmstén
Shaping the future of Spotify and Times Square through fan innovation.
From the heart of Sweden to Spotify's vaunted playlists and the electrifying Times Square stage — a front-row seat to the streaming revolution and the fan-led transformation of pop culture.
The Book
Data-driven innovation has handed fans the keys — making them the ultimate gatekeepers of today's hits and tomorrow's hopefuls.
Whether you're a music lover or a business leader, Fan-Powered Futures is a guide to how brands are built and communities are cultivated in the streaming era — where attention is earned, not bought.
Drawing on three decades inside the industry, Nick Holmstén traces the shift from gatekept charts to fan-led discovery: the same forces that turned a Swedish outsider into the architect of Spotify's playlists and the mind behind a reinvented Times Square.
A front-row seat to the streaming revolution and the fan-led transformation of pop culture.
Praise
“It took less than a minute for Holmstén to get behind the 17-year-old breakout star’s vision for a fan-listening experience for her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? I sat down, shook Nick’s hand, and started to explain the idea,” says Lubliner. “And Nick said, ‘Let’s do it.’” The concept, he adds, was executed “flawlessly—I felt like they took a picture of the inside of my brain.”
“The very first time I walked into Spotify’s office in Stockholm and met with Nick, I saw—and more importantly felt—like we and the artists we represent had a powerful new ally to help guide us into the future.”
“Nick tells you the truth, and you know where you stand. When someone looks me in the eye and says something, I want to feel like it means something, and I get that with Nick. That might come as a shock to some people in the music industry.”
“Nick is one of the most direct communicators that you’ll meet.”
After playing an early version of “Havana” for Holmstén while in an Uber (the executive’s office at Spotify’s Los Angeles headquarters did not have a stereo), “he stopped me and said, ‘That one’s special.’”
About the Author
Nick Holmstén’s remarkable career epitomizes the fusion of music, technology, and hospitality, marked by a ceaseless drive for innovation.
With three decades of diverse experience in the entertainment industry, Holmstén’s transformation from a thriving artist, producer, and songwriter into a pioneering leader in the realms of music and technology showcases his dynamic career progression.
His tenure as the Global Head of Music at Spotify is a testament to his significant impact on the digital music sphere. This role followed the strategic acquisition of his company, Tunigo, by Spotify in 2013, highlighting Spotify’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of the music discovery. He was instrumental in transforming Spotify into a global music powerhouse, introducing the modern playlist that revolutionized the way artists release music and reinvented how fans discover new music, thereby expanding the global reach of music artists.
Holmstén’s entrepreneurial ventures extend beyond Spotify to founding multiple companies within the realms of hospitality, entertainment, and technology. Each venture reflects his zeal for innovation and his dedication to integrating different sectors to enhance consumer interaction and experiences.
He also established TSX Entertainment, a groundbreaking entertainment company based in Times Square. Under his guidance, TSX Entertainment has transformed the entertainment landscape, with the TSX Stage and the TSX Billboard becoming significant cultural icons. The debut performance on the stage by Post Malone earned Six Clio Awards in 2023.
Today, Nick is the Co-Founder and CEO of Belong, a company building artist-owned membership programs on real financial infrastructure. The music business counts everything — plays, tickets, streams — except the one number that matters: who the fans truly are. Belong sets out to change that, giving each artist an invitation-only membership that turns fan devotion into something that counts — so the artist finally sees the fans, and the fans finally feel seen. As the company puts it: we build so they belong.
Nick Holmstén’s journey is a compelling tale of passion, vision, and innovative spirit shaping the entertainment industry. His groundbreaking work in music, technology, and hospitality inspires a new generation of entrepreneurs, artists, and visionaries, cementing his role as a key figure in the evolution of modern entertainment.
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