iWorld
Reddit posts strong Q1 with 69 per cent revenue growth to $625 million
DAUs up 17 per cent to 126.8 million as ads surge 74 per cent and AI tools gain traction
MUMBAI: Scroll, click, convert Reddit’s ad engine is clearly in overdrive. The social platform reported a sharp uptick in first-quarter performance, with total revenue jumping 69 per cent year-on-year to $625 million, up from $392 million. The surge was powered by a combination of user growth and a fast-expanding performance advertising business. Global average daily active users (DAUs) rose 17 per cent to 126.8 million, while the United States, its core market saw a more modest 7 per cent increase to 53.5 million. The growing audience base translated directly into stronger monetisation, with advertising revenue climbing 74 per cent to $625 million during the quarter.
A key driver behind this momentum has been Reddit’s push into performance-led advertising, which now accounts for more than 60% of its total ad revenue. Lower-funnel campaigns those aimed at driving actions such as purchases and sign-ups grew at a triple-digit rate, underlining a clear shift towards measurable outcomes.
At the centre of this strategy is Reddit Max, the company’s AI-powered campaign automation tool designed to rival offerings such as Google’s Performance Max and Meta’s Advantage+. Early results suggest promise: advertisers using the product have seen a 17 per cent drop in cost per action and a 25 per cent rise in conversions, with around half already tapping AI-generated creatives.
Still, the company acknowledges that adoption remains in its early innings, leaving ample headroom for scale as it builds out its ad tech stack.
Profitability is also on the rise. Net income reached $204 million for the quarter, while Reddit highlighted record cash flow exceeding $300 million. Looking ahead, the company expects second-quarter revenue to land between $715 million and $725 million.
With more than 60 per cent revenue growth sustained over seven consecutive quarters, Reddit is increasingly positioning itself not just as a community platform but as a serious contender in the performance advertising race.
iWorld
Spotify rolls out ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge for artists
New badge and profile details aim to boost transparency in AI-driven music era.
MUMBAI: In a world where even playlists can have imposters, Spotify is adding a badge of trust. The streaming platform has begun rolling out a new ‘Verified by Spotify’ badge, alongside expanded artist profile details, as it looks to bring greater clarity to listeners navigating an increasingly complex mix of human and AI-generated music. The badge, currently in beta, will appear on artist profiles that meet Spotify’s internal criteria for authenticity. These include consistent listener engagement, adherence to platform policies and signs of a real-world presence such as live performances, merchandise or active social media profiles. Notably, profiles representing primarily AI-generated artists will not be eligible for verification at launch.
Spotify says the verification process will combine automated systems with human review, prioritising artists with sustained audience interest over those driven by short-term spikes. The rollout will be gradual, with the badge appearing across profiles and search results over the coming weeks. The company noted that more than 99 per cent of artists users actively search for are already included in the initial phase.
Alongside the badge, Spotify is also introducing a new artist details section within profiles. Available even for non-verified artists, the feature will highlight career milestones, release activity and touring history, offering listeners a more comprehensive view of an artist’s journey and output.
The move builds on Spotify’s broader push towards transparency, complementing existing features such as SongDNA, expanded song credits and AI attribution tools. Together, these updates aim to give users more context about what they are listening to and who is behind it.
As generative AI continues to blur the lines between creator and creation, Spotify’s latest update signals a clear intent: in the streaming era, authenticity is becoming just as important as accessibility.
