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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesSonos announced on August 14, 2024, that it would eliminate approximately 100 positions, about 6% of its workforce, while Patrick Spence remained CEO. The cuts came three months after a troubled redesign of the Sonos app, but the company did not say the app was the sole reason for the layoffs—or that Spence had been formally considered for dismissal. He stepped down on January 13, 2025; Tom Conrad became Sonos’ permanent CEO in July 2025.
What Sonos announced in August 2024
Sonos said it would eliminate approximately 100 positions, representing about 6% of its employees. The company also planned to reduce its real-estate footprint. In a later filing, Sonos described the move as its 2024 restructuring plan. It was a cost and investment realignment, not an announced shutdown or exit from a product line. Sonos’ SEC filing documents the reduction; contemporaneous reporting covered the announcement and Spence’s explanation.
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Why the cuts landed amid the app crisis
Sonos launched a major app redesign in May 2024. Customers reported that familiar tasks and features—including setup, access to local music libraries, alarms, queue management, accessibility options, and system controls—were missing, unreliable, or harder to use. The effects varied by device, operating system, account, and use case; it would be inaccurate to imply every customer experienced every problem.
The company redirected product and engineering attention toward recovery, delayed two planned product launches, and told investors the remediation effort was expected to cost approximately $20 million to $30 million. Those estimates and the delays were part of the business fallout as Sonos worked to restore the app experience. Sonos’ fiscal third-quarter 2024 filing describes the app redesign and business context; TechCrunch’s August 14 report covered the recovery-cost estimate and Spence’s comments.
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- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
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That context does not establish that the app crisis alone caused every job loss. Sonos’ stated rationale also emphasized maintaining investment in its product roadmap and improving long-term operating efficiency. The company did not publish a complete breakdown of affected roles or a causal allocation of layoffs to particular teams. The company continued to release products later in 2024, including the Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4.
What Spence said—and what the headline implies
Spence described the reductions as difficult but necessary to continue investing in Sonos’ roadmap and put the business in a stronger long-term position. He also said recovering the app and customer satisfaction remained priorities. That was management’s justification, not proof that reducing headcount would improve the app.
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- Control with your TV remote, the Sonos app, the touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa
The phrase “but not the CEO” was commentary on the fact that Spence remained in his role while employees lost theirs. Sonos did not announce that he was on a termination list, had been spared a proposed firing, or was exempted from a formal restructuring condition. The company-level rollout and its consequences gave customers and commentators reason to scrutinize leadership, but the August layoffs themselves do not establish who was responsible for particular technical decisions.
The financial backdrop was broader than the app
The app crisis arrived as Sonos faced softer demand and challenging market conditions. For the first nine months of fiscal 2024, Sonos reported revenue down 6.5% year over year, citing factors that included softer demand, difficult market conditions, and channel normalization. The expected app-recovery costs added pressure; they should not be treated as the sole explanation for the company’s financial performance or workforce decisions. The filing gives Sonos’ reported revenue comparison and its stated factors.
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What happened to Sonos’ CEO afterward
The leadership chronology shows why the 2024 headline needs a date attached to it:
- August 14, 2024: Sonos announced the reduction of approximately 100 positions; Patrick Spence was CEO.
- January 13, 2025: Spence stepped down as CEO and left Sonos’ board. Tom Conrad was appointed interim CEO and president. Sonos’ announcement confirms the change.
- February 5, 2025: Sonos announced a separate workforce reduction of approximately 12%, distinct from the August 2024 action. The company’s SEC filing describes both restructuring plans and Spence’s departure.
- July 2025: Conrad became permanent CEO, according to Sonos’ fiscal 2025 filing.
Spence’s later departure means he did not remain CEO indefinitely, but it does not prove that the August layoffs were intended to shield him or that they substituted for accountability. The departure was a later board and leadership decision, not part of the August announcement.
Rank #4
- Enrich your entertainment experience with vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage.
- Experience a 3D surround sound effect with Dolby Atmos.
- Stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks from all your favorite services when the TV is off.
- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
- Effortless setup with only two cables and smart Trueplay tuning.
What the episode meant for customers
The layoffs were also a signal about the costs of a software failure in a connected-product business: a weak control app can affect setup, daily use, customer confidence, and the timing of new hardware. The app’s problems did not automatically erase a speaker’s hardware capabilities, and the available facts do not support treating Sonos products as abandoned or unusable across the board.
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- Perfectly tuned for the room: Using the microphones in your iOS device, Trueplay tuning technology analyzes the unique acoustics of your space and optimizes the EQ. So all your content sounds just the way it should.
- Breeze through setup: Simply plug in the power cable, connect your phone or tablet to WiFi, and open the Sonos app. It will guide you through connecting the soundbar to your TV and syncing your TV remote for streamlined control.
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