Spotify claims Apple rejected its latest update to boost Apple Music

Spotify says that Apple's refusal to approve the next update to its app for iPhone and iPad is actively harming the streaming service and its customers. Apple has apparently rejected the update due to problems with its business model, and Spotify seems to believe it's to boost Apple Music.

From Recode:

The letter says Apple turned down a new version of the app while citing "business model rules," and demanding that Spotify use Apple's billing system if "Spotify wants to use the app to acquire new customers and sell subscriptions."

The letter, sent by Spotify general counsel Horacio Gutierrez to Apple general counsel Bruce Sewell on May 26, suggests that Spotify intends to use the stand-off as ammunition in its fight over Apple's rules governing subscription services that use its App store.

The letter has apparently been distributed to some Congressional staff members in the U.S. Spotify recently joined Sen. Elizabeth Warren in her criticism of Apple's subscription practices.

Spotify has often campaigned against Apple's rules for subscriptions on the App Store, saying they harm competition. In particular, Spotify argues, the rules drive it and competing music services to offer their products at a higher-than-normal rate due to the cut Apple takes from those subscriptions, a problem that Apple Music doesn't face. Apple also doesn't allow subscription services to promote alternative subscription methods, such as a service's website, within their iOS app.

Comments are closed.