Spotify rushes to offer external payments at the Apple App Store
Apple Music competitor, artist royalty-squeezing Spotify really couldn’t wait for Apple to be forced to open up its App Store to external payment systems, leaping in with its own update which means it can direct Spotify users to payment systems outside Apple’s.
Free for all
Apple is no doubt disappointed that it has been forced to open up its platform for free in this way, but it may also see itself as to blame, as perhaps if it had been a little more liberal to the way it handled this until now, it may have saved some income.
Though the dance isn’t over yet, and Apple will appeal.
What this is about is a change in Apple’s US Developer Agreement. Under this new deal, Apps sold in the US can include buttons, external links, and other calls to action within their apps, including offering encouragement to use payment systems other than Apple’s.
Apple has been forced to make this change by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who told Apple off for not doing this already. As I reported here, it’s a case that may lead Apple to the criminal courts.
But for the short term it means app developers including Spotify can distribute apps via the App Store that require users to make purchases outside of the App Store.
For the kids, right, right
Apple clearly sees this as using tech it has invented and developed over decades without paying for it.
Spotify, I guess, wants to give Apple less money so it can reduce what it charges users and massively increase artist royalties to match those paid by Apple Music. (That was sarcasm, I don’t expect Spotify will do anything of the kind).
Anyway, that’s the story. As a result of the court case iPhone users can now use Spotify and pay directly to the streaming company. But use Apple Music if you want artists to get paid more. Though it is a bit more complicated than that.
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