This is what ultimately limits the size of companies: competing interests. Perfect example: Apple TV original programming. Apple having Apple money can (and do

This is what ultimately limits the size of companies: competing interests. Perfect example: Apple TV original programming. Apple having Apple money can (and do) throw big money at creating content. But Apple being Apple is also concerned about their overall image so none of that content is going to be too edgy or controversial and this limitation on artistic freedom is a recipe for mediocrity that, for example, HBO never had. When HBO made the Sopranos it was pretty edgy. That sort of risk will never happen on Apple TV. So Spotify has branched into podcasts from streaming music. Worse, it's not just a neutral host of such content (as, say, Youtube might be perceived). By paying a large amount for exclusivity this is de facto original Spotify programming. That means if there's anything controversial it can hurt Spotify's other business. Does Neil Young withdrawing his catalogue matter? Revenue-wise? Not at all. It's not necessarily the PR you want though. Does Joni Mitchell matter? Individually? No. But if this ever gets to the point of Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande? Oh boy, that's going to be rough. But the point is by buying into this separate market for original programming (effectively), Spotify has bought themselves a whole bunch of new problems they never would've had otherwise. For the record, I respect people who put their money where their mouth is (like Neil Young). Given the $100 million we all knew how this was going to go but hey, respect nonetheless.