Brown joined Spotify 18 months ago as MD of the UK office, having previously worked at Pandora. At the start of the year, he took over the role of strategic partnerships at the streaming music company.

Speaking to Music Week, he said that he is leaving to join a "start-up outside of the music industry" in September. He will also remain on the advisory board of Topspin.

"I wasn't looking to leave," he said. "But this was an opportunity that ...