Spotify has opened a new office in Istanbul, Türkiye (Turkey), alongside the appointment of new regional leadership.
Akshat Harbola, currently the company’s Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa region, has expanded his remit to also become MD for Türkiye.
Commenting on the announcement, Harbola hailed Türkiye as a “priority market” for Spotify.
“Opening an office in Istanbul is not a symbolic move for Spotify, it’s a structural one,” he said. “Türkiye is a priority market for us, and deepening our presence reflects our long-term commitment to the country’s music ecosystem, its creators, and its culture.”
Last summer, the streaming platform ended weeks of speculation about a potential exit from the market by confirming its intention to continue operating and establish a Turkish HQ.
The move followed escalating tensions after the country’s competition authority launched an investigation into Spotify’s business practices.
Spotify’s expansion in the country comes as Turkish music experiences significant growth on the platform, with 52 million users outside Türkiye listening to Turkish-language tracks last year.
According to the company, “export streams have soared by over 160% since 2020”.
“These numbers show just how firmly Turkish music has established itself on the global stage,” said Harbola. “Tens of millions of listeners outside Türkiye are engaging with Turkish-language tracks, and we’re seeing extraordinary growth across genres – from pop and hip-hop to arabesque and electronica.
“We’re proud to have supported this momentum so far, and we’re now focused on the next chapter: supporting sustainable careers and helping local voices reach audiences around the world.”
“Turkish music is deeply rooted, and that’s something we are committed to supporting over the long term.”
Akshat Harbola, Spotify
Lvbel C5, BLOK3, Semicenk, Tarkan, and Ezhel ranked among the most-streamed Turkish artists by listeners outside Türkiye over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, the collaborative album Mortal Kombat topped Spotify’s Top Global Albums Debut chart after its release last week – the first time an album from Türkiye has become No.1 globally.
“The love people in Türkiye have for local music is unmistakable. It’s not just a preference, it’s a deep, emotional connection that is clearly reflected in how people listen, discover, and return to Turkish artists again and again,” said Harbola.
“Turkish music is deeply rooted, and that’s something we are committed to supporting over the long term.”
The new Istanbul office, which will open by the end of June 2026, will continue to scale throughout the year to “reinforce Spotify’s presence on the ground and support the market with local expertise and leadership”.
Spotify plans to demonstrate its focus on the Turkish market throughout the year via investment in leadership and teams, plus the hiring of local experts.
It will also continue established company initiatives like EQUAL Türkiye, RADAR Türkiye, and ICON, alongside Spotify Masterclasses in Istanbul, which endeavor to provide artists with music industry tools and insights.
Harbola concluded: “Strong, long-term growth comes from collaboration. We recognize the importance of working closely with the local music industry, and we’re incredibly grateful to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for its ongoing support as we deepen our roots in Türkiye.
“And while we do so, we will also continue to invest in Türkiye creative economy with expanded local activations and dedicated marketing initiatives to support artists.”
Last week, Spotify announced it paid out more than $11 billion to the music industry in 2025, which it says is “the largest annual payment to music from any retailer in history”.
The latest figure, revealed in a blog post by Spotify’s Head of Music, Charlie Hellman, represents year-over-year growth of more than 10% and brings the service’s all-time payouts to nearly $70 billion.Music Business Worldwide
