The Playlist is a program known for offering viewers a multi-dimensional viewing experience. One of its most captivating storylines revolves around Petra Hansson (portrayed by Gizem Erdogan), whose efforts largely contributed to Spotify securing its agreements. Petra Hansson served as a prominent executive and legal figure at Spotify, dedicating nearly a decade to the music streaming service. Her extensive experience played a crucial role in helping Spotify achieve numerous milestones.
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As shown in The Playlist, nothing is known about Petra Hansson prior to her partnership with Spotify.
In Episode 3 of the Netflix miniseries, titled “The Legal,” Petra Hansson is introduced as a promising lawyer at a prominent Scandinavian law firm. In reality, Petra Hansson was a highly sought-after professional at Mannheimer Swartling, the largest firm in the Swedish legal market. A year before Spotify’s launch, Hansson was actively pursued, eventually joining the company as their legal counsel and representative. She subsequently represented the emerging streaming service in negotiations with major music labels and corporations, a portrayal accurately depicted in “The Playlist.”
While Hansson collaborated closely with Niklas Ivarsson on legal matters, she played a pivotal role in devising a strategy that ensured Spotify’s long-term viability. Despite Daniel Ek’s inclination to offer the service for free, Hansson identified potential pitfalls and crafted a plan that led to the creation of Spotify Premium, as beautifully illustrated in “The Playlist.”
Furthermore, Hansson played a significant part in Spotify’s global expansion, negotiating with legal experts to establish the company’s presence in the United States. In 2009, she successfully negotiated an agreement with Warner Music Group’s then-CEO, Edgar Bronfman Jr., to make Warner’s entire music catalog accessible on Spotify in Europe.
What happened to Petra Hansson?
In Episode 3 of the Netflix miniseries “The Legal,” Petra Hansson is introduced as a promising lawyer at a leading Scandinavian law firm. However, in reality, she was a highly sought-after professional at Mannheimer Swartling, the largest firm in the Swedish legal market. A year before Spotify’s launch, Hansson was actively pursued, eventually joining the company as their legal counsel and representative. She subsequently represented the emerging streaming service in negotiations with major music labels and corporations, as accurately depicted in “The Playlist.”
Collaborating closely with Niklas Ivarsson, Spotify’s former Global Head of Licensing, Hansson played a crucial role in devising a strategy to ensure the company’s long-term viability. Despite Daniel Ek’s inclination to offer the service for free, Hansson identified potential pitfalls and crafted a plan that led to the creation of Spotify Premium, as beautifully illustrated in “The Playlist.”
Moreover, Hansson played a significant part in Spotify’s global expansion, negotiating with legal experts to establish the company’s presence in the United States. In 2009, she successfully negotiated an agreement with Warner Music Group’s then-CEO, Edgar Bronfman Jr., to make Warner’s entire music catalog accessible on Spotify in Europe.
In February 2019, Hansson and Niklas Ivarsson joined the advisory board of Tracklib, a Stockholm-based sample licensing business. Tracklib CEO Pär Almqvist commended her contributions and efforts in aiding the firm with its legal and commercial challenges in 2020.
Since then, Petra Hansson has led a private life, and little is known about her post-Tracklib pursuits. While her exact whereabouts remain unclear, it is believed she resides in Sweden’s Greater Stockholm Metropolitan Area. She is not active on any social media platforms.
