Apple vs Spotify

2024

Apple claims:

• The European Commission claims the App Store has been a barrier to competition in the digital music market despite a lack of evidence of consumer harm and a thriving, competitive market.
• Spotify, based in Sweden, is the primary advocate for this decision and has met with the European Commission more than 65 times during the investigation.
• Spotify has a 56% share of Europe's music streaming market and pays Apple nothing for the services that have contributed to their success.
• The App Store has helped developers of all sizes build successful businesses, and 86% of developers never pay Apple a commission.
• Developers only pay Apple a commission when a user buys a paid app or an in-app digital good or service.
• Europe's digital music market has grown exponentially, with nearly 160 million subscribers in 2022, up from 25 million in 2015.
• Spotify has been downloaded, re-downloaded, or updated more than 119 billion times on Apple devices and is available in over 160 countries.
• Apple provides various tools, technologies, and services to Spotify at no cost, including APIs, frameworks, beta-testing tools, and app reviews.
• Spotify wants to rewrite the App Store rules in its favor, using Apple's tools and technologies without paying anything.
• The European Commission has tried to build three cases against Apple over eight years, with no evidence of consumer harm or anti-competitive behavior.
• The decision was issued just before the Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into force, and Apple plans to comply with the DMA.
• Apple believes the decision is not grounded in existing competition law and will appeal the decision.
• Apple has been a part of Europe for over 40 years, supporting more than 2.5 million jobs across the continent.

2022

• Audiobooks - Time to Play Fair

Seriously is @Spotify complaining about being fair. Take a look at yourselves first. The effect of your ultra-low payout system on musicians is decimating grassroots music. Perhaps @Apple are doing audiobook creators a favour and protecting them from that awful company.

— John Pill (@JohnPill4) October 27, 2022

Can artists have their own payment system within Spotify?
Can artists include links in Spotify to purchase their products outside of Spotify.
Perhaps Spotify could lead by example, opening their platform to third parties and remove content rules?

— Nitesh Maharaj (@nitesh_maharaj) October 27, 2022