The former head of VH1 is leaving after a nearly a year-and-a-half at the music streaming platform.
Tom Calderone is leaving Spotify after nearly a year-and-a-half overseeing its video and podcasting efforts. A spokesperson for the music streaming company said that Calderone, the former head of VH1 who served as global head of Spotify Studios, has been transitioning out of his role for the last month.
Under Calderone, the nine-year-old Spotify, which offers up both ad-supported music streaming and a $10-per-month subscription, looked to expand its service to include video. The company inked deals with producers such as ESPN and Vice to stream their videos on its platform and also ordered a handful of original series including animated show Drawn & Recorded from T Bone Burnett and Rush Hour from Russell Simmons. Earlier this year, it released a slate of original podcasts through partners such as Panoply and Gimlet Media.
The company says video and podcast content remain important to its business but that it will be focused on expanding its video offerings through playlists including Rap Caviar and Rock This.