“But it also doesn’t feel right to punish our users by pulling support for the API. I’d rather try to change behaviour by participating and showcasing what we believe in.”
Söderström’s email comes after a series of missteps at the ride-hailing giant, which included a blockbuster account of sexism from a former engineer, a widely viewed video of CEO Travis Kalanick insulting a driver, and a report about an internal effort to skirt local regulations.
The internal debate at Spotify suggests that at least one of Uber’s partners have become wary of associating with a company that has lately been almost as well known for its scandals as it has its transportation service.
Some early Uber investors have also sought to distance themselves from the company, presumably in part over fears that the association would damage future investment prospects.
Uber added Spotify integration in 2014, giving riders the ability to control drivers’ sound systems. Pandora was added as an alternate option last September.
An app redesign last year removed Spotify and Pandora from the app; that feature is apparently set to return in an upcoming update. The music streaming integration is part of Uber’s efforts to get riders to use its app during trips, which will create opportunities for the company to sell advertising, among other things.
Spotify and Uber declined to comment.