On August 4, Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) and Merlin announced a licensing agreement that lets independent artists opt into Spotify’s upcoming fan-made covers and remixing tool. Second-quarter revenue rose 14% year-over-year to ~$5.56 billion, driven by 300 million premium subscribers and 494 million ad-supported users. Net income reached ~$634 million, reversing the prior year’s loss and proving the engagement push is successfully boosting paid adoption. A newly launched, paid add-on like the remix tool also carries real execution risk. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of SPOT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame.