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FTC Also Investigating Apple's Upcoming Music Streaming Service

Tuesday May 5, 2015 9:55 pm PDT by Husain Sumra
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Apple's efforts to set up deals with record labels as it prepares to launch its new music streaming service, a rebranded version of Beats Music, according to Bloomberg. This would make the FTC the third government body to look into the new music service after the U. S. Department of Justice and European Commission.

beatsmusic
The FTC's investigators, still in the early stages, of their inquiry, are asking whether Apple’s efforts will change the way music labels work with other streaming services, for example curtailing ad-supported music and pushing more songs into paid tiers of service at higher rates, according to one of the people.
A couple days ago, a report emerged that Apple was utilizing its power within the music industry to push record labels to stop licensing freemium tiers offered by Spotify and other music services. The Cupertino company also reportedly offered to pay YouTube's licensing fee to Universal Music Group if the label stopped allowing its music on the website, which is a popular destination for music videos.

The FTC is speaking to multiple record labels about Apple's practices. However, music-industry executives told Bloomberg that Apple has made no such demands. Similarly, the Department of Justice is also interviewing high-ranking music executives about Apple's practices. The European Commission is doing the same, concerned that Apple will use its size to force record labels to stop supporting freemium music tiers.

Apple's Beats-based music streaming service will reportedly launch in June at WWDC, though the company is still finalizing several streaming deals. It will reportedly be deeply integrated into iTunes for Mac and the stock music app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch while apps will also be available for Apple TV and Android, and Apple is aiming to offer exclusive content in the hopes of drawing people from other services. Last month, the company seeded iOS 8.4 beta to developers with a redesigned Music app featuring a new MiniPlayer, a redesigned look for "Now Playing", and more.

Tags: Spotify, YouTube, FTC, bloomberg.com, Beats Music, Apple Music
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elmateo487
49 months ago

[url=https://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif]Image (https://www.macrumors.com/2015/05/05/ftc-investigates-new-streaming-serivce/)[/url]


The FTC's investigators, still in the early stages, of their inquiry, are asking whether Apple's efforts will change the way music labels work with other streaming services, for example curtailing ad-supported music and pushing more songs into paid tiers of service at higher rates, according to one of the people.


The only, thing I thought, of while reading, this, is that something, is seriously wrong, with these commas.
Rating: 27 Votes
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christarp
49 months ago
Good. Apple, I love you guys, but after hearing about the shady deals.. Yeah I can't support that.
Rating: 18 Votes
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christarp
49 months ago

it's a rumor.


And it's one that should be investigated.
Rating: 17 Votes
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farewelwilliams
49 months ago

Good. Apple, I love you guys, but after hearing about the shady deals.. Yeah I can't support that.


it's a rumor.
Rating: 15 Votes
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69Mustang
49 months ago

The Cupertino company also reportedly offered to pay YouTube's licensing fee to Universal Music Group if the label stopped allowing its music on the website, which is a popular destination for music videos.


Wow. I'm hoping this is not true. If it is, that's pretty freakin' foul. Hopefully this is just rumor with no substantiation. That's some old school MS bs right there.
Rating: 14 Votes
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ThisIsNotMe
49 months ago
How is that FTC investigation into Google/Yelp+MapQuest going?

Oh wait, thats right, the benefit of your chairman being a White House advisor and spending in the top of lobbying spending.
Rating: 10 Votes
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Che Castro
49 months ago
Apple should buy FTC


OH WAIT :(
Rating: 9 Votes
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smorrissey
49 months ago
Bad Apple
Rating: 9 Votes
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Eric5h5
49 months ago

Yes it's a rumor but it's got to have at the very least a portion of truth to it. And it's not far fetched. But apple should be careful not to get evil and greedy less they suffer the same fate as Rome, er I mean Microsoft.


Really? I heard a rumor that viachicago22 kicks puppies. So, it has to have at least a portion of truth to it, because somebody wrote it on the internet. :rolleyes:

--Eric
Rating: 6 Votes
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HobeSoundDarryl
49 months ago

If they're true, it will make for some interesting times at MacRumors, that's for sure.


Only about 5000 posts about how stupid these governments are... how there are countless better things to be "wasting taxpayer dollars" on and how there are countless more evil things being done by <insert any other company name> to deflect implied wrongdoing away from Apple.

Even in this very thread, there's people posting that Apple's iBooks wrongdoings were actually right, aimed at saving the book industry, etc. Even in being found guilty which comes with a tangible benefit for us consumers, there are Apple fans who still argue the counter. I wonder if such people just send their net pay directly to Apple and/or offer their firstborn in sacrifice to their almighty? ;)
Rating: 5 Votes

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