Spotify's CEO Expects Apple to Further 'Open Up' After EU Antitrust Complaint

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek today told Bloomberg that he expects Apple to further "open up" in long term following the antitrust complaint Spotify filed with the European Union last year.

spotify complaint apple eu
In the complaint, Spotify said that Apple enforces App Store rules that "purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience," and that Apple acts as "both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers."

Spotify specifically took issue with Apple's 30 percent fee collected on ‌App Store‌ purchases, which has forced Spotify to charge subscribers through the ‌App Store‌ $12.99 per month for its Premium plan instead of the $9.99 per month fee it normally collects.

The European Union subsequently launched an investigation into Apple, even though Apple claimed Spotify's complaint was "misleading rhetoric."

Apple has since made a few changes, launching a feature that allows Siri to work with non-Apple Music services, and Spotify has also introduced new Apple Watch and Apple TV apps. Ek said these moves have been encouraging.

"We're very encouraged about being able to now finally use Siri as a way of building in voice support and also being available to build products for the Apple TV and Apple Watch, something that we haven't been able to do until very recently," Ek said in the interview. It's unclear if Spotify was actually prevented from launching an Apple TV app as the platform has had other music services for multiple years as App Store apps.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg said that Apple is working on a new feature that will allow third-party apps like Spotify to run natively on the HomePod, and there may be an option that will allow users to change the default music app on iOS and iPadOS 14, further leveling the playing field between Apple and its competitors.

Apple, said Ek is "moving in the right direction," but there are "many, many steps" still to go before Spotify will consider Apple an "open and fair platform."

Top Rated Comments

dmylrea Avatar
45 months ago

Apple should just make Apple Music for free and kill Spotiy, it's not like they can't afford it.
Because Apple Music is the be-all, end-all, most awesome music service? According to who, you?


I get it, Apple is the "gate keeper" and one might say they have a strangle hold on IOS distribution, but could you imagine someone suing Walmart for refusing to sell their product.
That's the not point. First, Apple has made it so that the App Store is the only source of apps. Walmart is not the only source of food, clothes, electronics, etc.

Second, imagine buying a TV at Walmart, and then any streaming services you subscribe to, you have to get them through Walmart's TV App Portal, and the services are 30% higher than everyone else. Hardly fair. Not quite equal because Walmart doesn't have a stranglehold on TV's, whereas the App Store has a stranglehold on apps.

Should Apple make something on in-app purchases? Sure. They can't run an App Store for free (although they've made it so people need it), but 30% for something they had nothing to do with whatsoever? Maybe a couple percent, at most, for the convenience.


astill waiting for Spotify to make it so the Apple Watch can use songs offline or stream, why so long Spotify? API is available, guess lawyers are more valuable than paying software devs
This. (and, why Instagram doesn't have an iPad app yet!)
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maldahleh Avatar
45 months ago
The Spotify CEO seems to have a massive ego, I don't think any of the changes Apple are making are because of him or Spotify's complaint in specific, but rather to cater to what Apple's users want.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
45 months ago

I do not agree with Spotify’s case on Apple not being a fair platform. The fact is Apple controls their own App Store. Therefore, they can determine its terms.

With that being said, whatever gets me closer to be able to set Outlook as my default email app, I am happy.
I would agree with you if there were other App Stores or ways for people to compete, but there aren't. It doesn't matter that Apple created the device or the service, if they are competing it has to be fair because the law says so.

Developers have to pay a yearly fee to be there, then on top of that companies like Spotify have to pay an additional 30% of their income, that is a huge amount of money, I cannot imagine paying 30% of what I charged for a project to anyone.

I hope the EU will do the right thing and support Spotify here.


So hosting the in-app purchase content, payment processing, APIs to enable in-app purchasing is all nothing?
Yes. I can host my own app, I can deal with payment services, I can do all of that without loosing 30% of my business or overcharging costumers to fill Apple's deep pockets.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mmikuta Avatar
45 months ago
Still waiting for Spotify to make it so the Apple Watch can use songs offline or stream, why so long Spotify? API is available, guess lawyers are more valuable than paying software devs
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechieGeek Avatar
45 months ago
Some people here are so anti-Spotify.

Competition breeds innovation, y’all. This is good for consumers. We can’t have monopolies, or they stop innovating.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MhzDoesMatter Avatar
45 months ago
There are changes Apple can and perhaps should make. But I have a hard time feeling sorry for Spotify when they don't even take advantage of the apis currently available.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Multi Display CarPlay 1

All-New Apple CarPlay Launching Later This Year With These 5 New Features

Friday September 29, 2023 11:29 am PDT by
At WWDC 2022 last year, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, personalization options, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience would be announced in late 2023, but it has still not shared any additional...
BMW Logo iPhone 15 Pro

Warning: BMW Wireless Charging May Break iPhone 15's Apple Pay Chip

Sunday October 1, 2023 6:14 am PDT by
If you have an iPhone 15 and drive a BMW, it might be best to avoid charging the device with the vehicle's wireless charging pad for now. Over the past week, some BMW owners have complained that their iPhone 15's NFC chip no longer works after charging the device with their vehicle's wireless charging pad, according to comments shared on the MacRumors Forums and X, formerly known as Twitter. ...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

Apple to Address iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issue With iOS 17 Update

Saturday September 30, 2023 9:28 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an iOS 17 update to address a bug that may contribute to the reported iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max overheating issue, according to a statement the company shared today with MacRumors and Forbes reporter David Phelan. Apple also says some recent updates to third-party apps have overloaded the system and contributed to the overheating issue. The report notes that...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...
iPhone 16 Side Feature

iPhone 16 and 16 Pro: Preliminary Weights and Dimensions

Friday September 29, 2023 12:34 pm PDT by
MacRumors has obtained preliminary information on the weights and dimensions planned for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The information corroborates previous reports suggesting that the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will feature larger displays. iPhone 16 and 16 Plus Current information suggests that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will maintain the same...
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.1 Beta 1

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:57 pm PDT by
Just a week after releasing iOS 17, Apple has seeded the first beta of iOS 17.1 to developers. iOS 17.1 adds some features that Apple promised were coming to iOS 17 in the future, plus it refines and improves some existing features. This guide covers everything new in the first iOS 17.1 beta. Apple Music Favorites You can favorite songs, albums, playlists, and artists in the iOS 17.1...
CarPlay SharePlay

CarPlay Not Working for Some iPhone 15 Users, Possibly Because of USB-C Cables

Friday September 29, 2023 2:27 pm PDT by
CarPlay is not working as expected for some iPhone 15 users, an issue that is likely linked to the transition to USB-C. There are multiple complaints from MacRumors readers and Reddit users who are unable to get CarPlay to work with their new devices. Cable type and available port options are a common theme in the CarPlay reports, with many of the functionality problems linked to USB-A to...