Fame is usually synonymous with visibility, but Johan Röhr has become one of the most illustrious shadows of the streaming era.
Orchestrating a Spotify discography that surpasses the highest levels of pop royalty without ever being in the spotlight, this Stockholm symphonist has been identified as the mastermind behind over 650 artist aliases on Spotify. Röhr's compositions have amassed a staggering 15 billion streams, according to The Guardian.
Röhr's prolific output includes more than 2,700 songs. A mainstay of Spotify's mood-focused playlists, her music serves as an invisible backdrop to millions of daily lives. Much of the artist's success is believed to come specifically from editorial instrumental playlists.
Critics argue that the dominance of a few anonymous artists undermines Spotify's commitment to supporting small, independent musicians. Financially, Röhr's windfall from his streaming success is not fully known, although his company reported a record year of 32.7 million crowns ($3 million) in fiscal 2022.
In response, a Spotify spokesperson said The Guardian: “There is a growing interest in functional music created to improve everyday activities such as relaxation, concentration or studying, and these playlists are created to meet listener demand. This type of music typically exists in the center Spotify's Focus, which limits competition with artists in traditional popular music genres.”
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