Spotify buys sports-talk app Locker Room with plans to broaden reach

Spotify is acquiring live audio sports app Locker Room and its maker Betty Labs — with plans to expand the app’s reach into broader segments of pop culture, according to a new report.

The deal, which is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Google Ventures and Precursor Ventures, is valued at around $50 million, The Wall Street Journal said. If certain targets are met the value could reach $80 million, the publication said, citing anonymous sources. Locker Room has become a place for sports super fans, with the likes of Miami Heat forward Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry and ESPN’s Jeff Darlington dropping in for conversations on games and news.