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What would be the north star metric for Spotify?
How to approach it
Start from the value a listener gets, not from revenue. Ask what single behavior shows people are getting that value often.
How a strong answer opens
“I'll start from the value a listener gets, easy access to audio they enjoy, and then look for the single behavior that shows people get that value often.”
Outline of a strong answer
Try answering out loud for a few minutes before you open this.
- State the value Spotify delivers: easy access to audio people enjoy
- List candidate metrics: monthly users, listening hours, paid subscribers
- Pick one, such as weekly listening time per active user, and justify it
- Show how it connects to revenue (ads and subscriptions)
- Name its blind spot (passive background play) and a guardrail
- List two or three input metrics teams can move
Where this question usually goes wrong
Choosing paid subscribers or revenue, which measures how the company captures value rather than whether listeners get it.
Learn the method
Choosing a north-star metric in Module 2, Metrics and execution.
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