Spotify gets PR help ahead of expansion

Swedish music streaming service Spotify has appointed Lewis PR as its public relations agency ahead of opening an office in Asia.Lewis PR will oversee public relations for Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, Andy Oliver, Lewis PR's Asia Pacific senior vice president, told Marketing.Oliver said that Lewis PR will take the lead in traditional PR activity, social media, digital marketing and "influencer relations".There was no contract period stated for partnership. It is also understood that post the appointment, the company aims to set up operations in the region.The agency was appointed following a pitch that involved Text 100, Ogilvy, Bite Communications and Zeno, sources told Marketing.Speculation about its plans in Asia have been rife since 2011, with news of hiring teams in Hong Kong and Singapore.Spotify earns most of its revenue through advertising and operates on a freemium model, that is, supporting its free service through display advertising.Users can opt for an ad-free experience and more features if they agree to pay a sum of US$4.99 or US$9.99.