Spotify Claims 1 Million Users

Music streaming operation Spotify claims it has registered one million users across Europe only two weeks after allowing the U.K. public full access to its service.

The Sweden-based service launched in October with catalog from all four major labels plus several independents. Most recently, it inked a deal with California-based independent distributor INgroove, leading classical music label Naxos and Oregon-based independent distributor CD Baby.

While claiming it is currently unable to specify the actual number of tracks available due to varying territorial licensing agreements, a Spotify spokesman confirmed it is "in the millions." The service is available in northern and western European markets including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Scandinavia.

Until mid-February, the free service was invitation-only. However, users in the United Kingdom can now register for free on the ad-supported web site and pay daily or monthly subscription fees for the ad-free service. Spotify recently said in a statement it hopes to "do the same in other countries in the future" (Billboard.Biz, Feb. 11).