Spotify CEO Daniel Ek on Apple's EU Changes: 'They Think the Rules Don't Apply to Them'

Spotify CEO Daniel EK today wrote a blog post criticizing the app ecosystem changes that Apple implemented in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act, accusing Apple of putting forward "a new plan that is a complete and total farce" under "the false pretense of compliance and concessions."

General Spotify Feature
Ek says that Apple doesn't "think the rules apply to them," and he believes that most app developers are not going to be able to adopt Apple's new terms.

The 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee collected per install per year (after 1 million installs) is "extortion," according to Ek. Combined with the reduced commission through the App Store (10-20% depending on options selected), Ek claims that developers of popular apps will pay "the same or even more to Apple" than with the prior rules.


According to Ek, Spotify is facing "an untenable situation." With Apple's new terms, Spotify would have to pay 0.50 euros per user along with a 17 percent commission, which is the same or worse as under the old rules. Ek claims that an alternative app store offering could potentially increase customer acquisition costs tenfold because of the need to pay the fee even for non-subscribers.

And if we managed to remove our app from the App Store and only existed in the Alternative App Store, that would still not work. With our EU Apple install base in the 100 million user range, this new tax on downloads and updates could skyrocket our customer acquisition costs, potentially increasing them tenfold. This, as we have to pay on every install or update to our free or paid app, even for those who no longer use the service.

Ek concludes that Apple is "forcing developers to stay with the status quo," which "negates the goal of the DMA." The future that Spotify outlined earlier this week promising a better experience for users in the EU is "less clear," according to Ek, and he calls on European Commissioners to reject Apple's "blatant disregard" of the DMA.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, another outspoken Apple critic, shared similar thoughts yesterday. He said that the ‌App Store‌ changes are a "devious new instance of malicious compliance" aimed at thwarting the Digital Markets Act.

Sweeney said that while Fortnite will return to iOS through a planned ‌Epic Games‌ app marketplace on the iPhone, Epic will continue to "argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law."

In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that it is happy to support the success of all developers, and that under the new business terms, more than 99 percent of developers will pay the same amount or less to Apple.

We’re happy to support the success of all developers — including Spotify, which has the most successful music streaming app in the world. The changes we’re sharing for apps in the European Union give developers choice — with new options to distribute iOS apps and process payments. Every developer can choose to stay on the same terms in place today. And under the new terms, more than 99% of developers would pay the same or less to Apple.

Popular Stories

apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...
top stories 2025 07 12

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, iOS 26 Beta 3, and More

Saturday July 12, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
The iOS 26 public beta release is quickly approaching, while developers have recently gotten their hands on a third round of betas that has seen Apple continue to tweak features, design, and functionality. We're also continuing to hear rumors about the iPhone 17 lineup that is now just about right around the corner, while Apple's latest big-budget film appears to be taking off, so read on...

Top Rated Comments

Donstil-nl Avatar
19 months ago
It irritates me more and more that we give Spotify so much attention in this. Spotify is an unsympathetic company that pays artists the least among all streaming services. They don’t deserve our sympathy at all, and the battle they wage against Apple is at least hypocritical.

That being said, the new App Store rules are in accordance with the EU, and all companies that think differently now simply have to accept it
Score: 67 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VPsmith Avatar
19 months ago
Notice the real complaint here. “We aren’t getting a discount from Apple”… like these companies want so badly to not pay Apple a dime.. and I don’t support that. I support Apple in all of this. The people that wish Apple got paid less are really rooting for the other team. I just gotta say. I support Apple.
Score: 47 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neuropsychguy Avatar
19 months ago
“he believes that most app developers are not going to be able to adopt Apple's new terms”

Most developers would be able to adopt the new terms, unless most developers are having more than 1 million installs per year. Does the Spotify CEO have data showing that >50% of iOS developers have more than 1 million app installs per year in the EU? If not, he's posturing with hyperbole.

What he really means is Spotify and a few other large companies will have to pay Apple about the same money or more with the new terms as the old terms. These companies wanted to pay less and are upset that didn't happen.

Note that I'm not defending Apple here, I'm simply pointing out the hyperbole (or worse) from Spotify's CEO.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
19 months ago
He's right. Every bit as bad as Microsoft in the 90's.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
icanhazmac Avatar
19 months ago

Companies are not citizens of the countries in which they operate, and therefor should have no say-so.

We the people, not we the corporations.
Hmmm, I wonder how many EU citizens were clamoring for all this EU overreach versus lobbyists or special interests?
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
19 months ago
It almost makes me want to buy a Samsung next tbh totally off putting and I don’t even feel the need to sideload. Just how Apple adapted the rules is kind of cringe. Wonder what the EU will eventually (in like 5 years at their pace) say about it.

It’s like those companies here that adapt a cookie banner but you only have the choice between accepting all cookies or subscribing but then they argue „but you have a choice!“ or Facebook only offering a paid subscription to not be tracked in the EU. Shady!
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)