Google's New Business Head Joins Spotify Board

Just a few days after replacing Nikesh Arora,  Omid Kordestani, the new chief business officer of Google, has joined the Spotify board of directors, it was reported Monday.  

The news is more interesting because Google has already expressed interest in acquiring Spotify and integrating it with YouTube, according to the Re/Code. So far there haven't been any definitive actions or negotiations about buying the online music service, though.

Perhaps proof that Google isn't buying Spotify is the awaited launch of a YouTube subscription music service that will be its rival. “We’re always working on new ways for people to enjoy YouTube content across all screens, and on giving our partners more opportunities to reach their fans and generate revenue," a Google spokesperson said in a statement. "We’ll be adding subscription-based features for music on YouTube with this in mind, and look forward to sharing them with music fans.”
 
Another former Googler, an ex-YouTube head of product Shishir Mehrotra, has also been assigned an advisory role to Spotify's executive board and chief executive.
 
Tech executives sit on a lot of boards, and with Google working on its own music service, it's unlikely the announcement is Google's stealth way of acquiring Spotify. It should be said, though, that Kordestani works very quickly. Only in the office for a few days and already on the board of directors at another tech company? That's some quick work indeed.
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