Online retail and technology giant Amazon has reportedly started making layoffs in its music unit.
Bloomberg first reported the news on Wednesday (November 8). Citing sources, it said that editorial and audio content team roles were targeted.
Citing sources, Reuters also reported that staff members in various markets including Latin America, North America, and Europe were issued with redundancy notices on Wednesday.
Reuters added that the company ‘has been quietly trimming jobs, including communications staff in its Studios, Video and Music divisions last month’.
This round of layoffs is one of several over the past 12 months to have impacted over 27,000 roles at Amazon, Reuters said.
Amazon started laying off members of its corporate and technology workforce back in November last year as part of an initial round of around 10,000 job cuts.
This latest round of layoffs at Amazon arrives amid ongoing industry-wide job cuts in the tech sector.
TechCrunch reports that more than 240,000 tech jobs have been cut globally in 2023.
“Some roles have been eliminated on the Amazon Music team. We will continue to invest in Amazon Music.”
Amazon Spokesperson, speaking with Reuters
“We have been closely monitoring our organizational needs and prioritizing what matters most to customers and the long-term health of our businesses,” an Amazon spokesperson is quoted by Reuters as saying.
The spokesperson didn’t confirm how many jobs have been cut in this round.
They added: “Some roles have been eliminated on the Amazon Music team. We will continue to invest in Amazon Music.”
Other companies to have made layoffs this year include Meta and Microsoft.
In the music business, Spotify announced in January that it plans to cut 6% of its global workforce, which amounted to more than 500 people, and another cut another 200 roles from its podcast unit in June.
Warner Music Group told staff on March 29 that it planned to reduce its workforce by 4%, or about 270 people.Music Business Worldwide
