After talks with officials, Spotify will now be opening an Istanbul office to “promote Türkiye’s rich musical heritage and culture to the world”.
From exit rumours to a fresh start
Back in July, it looked like Spotify’s days in Türkiye were numbered. Reports surfaced that the streaming giant was considering pulling out altogether. The reason? Well, there’s actually you: Spotify was criticized by Turkish officials over playlists they said clashed with national values, and the launch of an antitrust investigation (including into how Spotify pays artists).
It took just six weeks for the tune to change. Instead of leaving, Spotify has doubled down on its commitment to Türkiye.
Official word from the top
The news came courtesy of Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. Posting on X, he described Spotify as “one of the pioneers of the global music industry” and announced that the company will continue operating in the country.
Not only that, but Spotify is now planning to open a new office in Istanbul as soon as 2026. The move is set to help support the country’s music ecosystem. The success of Türkiye’s music industry is something that Ersoy was keen to celebrate, highlighting that Turkish artists broke records by reaching 2.8 billion new listeners last year.
You can read the full tweet here (which can be Grok-translated):
Küresel müzik endüstrisinin öncülerinden #Spotify ile yaptığımız toplantıda önemli adımlar için kararlar aldık.
Ülkemizin müzik ekosisteminin Spotify’dan hak ettiği desteği alması için kısa sürede somut ilerlemeler kaydedeceğiz.
📌 Önemli bir eksiklik olan Spotify Türkiye… pic.twitter.com/IodzX89kpy
— Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (@MehmetNuriErsoy) August 19, 2025
Looking ahead
It’s safe to say the last couple of months have been a rollercoaster for Spotify in Türkiye. From the threat of an exit to a renewed partnership with officials, the outcome is good news for both artists and listeners.
With an Istanbul office on the horizon, Spotify is set to become an even bigger player in Türkiye.