Spotify Uproar Points to the Power of the Playlist

The furor over Spotify’s move to remove some musicians from its playlists, and its reversal, reflects a reality of the music business: Playlists are the new radio

What is getting on a popular Spotify playlist worth?

Spotify Technology, which went public in April, is the world’s leading music-streaming service by paying subscribers. Nearly a third of listening on Spotify happens through the playlists that its staff and software assemble, the company says.

That is why the company’s move in May to remove...