European Commission 'Concerned' About Apple's Streaming Music Plans

[MacRumors]

European regulators are scrutinizing Apple's discussions with record labels for its much-rumored streaming music service, according to Financial Times. The report claims the European Commission has contacted several labels and digital music companies to request information about their agreements with Apple, although these actions do not guarantee it will launch a formal antitrust investigation.

The report, citing people familiar with the matter, claims that the European Commission is "concerned" that Apple will use its size and influence to persuade the music groups to abandon free, ad-supported services such as Spotify. Apple has nearly 1 billion iTunes users, and the company could face hefty fines and be required to change its business practises if committed of wrongdoing.

Apple is expected to launch a revamped streaming music service at WWDC in June, although it will reportedly not offer a free, ad-supported streaming option like Spotify and some other competitors offer. The service will reportedly be deeply integrated into iTunes on Mac and the stock Music app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and apps will also be available for Apple TV and Android.

Article Link: European Commission 'Concerned' About Apple's Streaming Music Plans

 

[2457282]

These are the same people that approved the purchase of Beats, correct? What did they think Apple was going to do? Of course Apple is going to release a streaming service. Why is that a concern now and not when they approved the purchase? Seems silly to me, but I am sure there is more to it than I am aware of, or at least I hope so.

 

[sdz]

These are the same people that approved the purchase of Beats, correct? What did they think Apple was going to do? Of course Apple is going to release a streaming service. Why is that a concern now and not when they approved the purchase? Seems silly to me, but I am sure there is more to it than I am aware of, or at least I hope so.

If they integrate streaming right into iOS (which makes sense) then this would lead to an antitrust investigation I guess.

At this time it is only an App (Beats) which needs to be installed by the customer and it is not available in the EU.

Maybe this will be another record penalty for the EU. It serves them right. Apple is a tax cheater. I hate them for that.

 

[Derekeys]

Support the artists. Pirate.

 

[Plutonius]

These are the same people that approved the purchase of Beats, correct? What did they think Apple was going to do? Of course Apple is going to release a streaming service. Why is that a concern now and not when they approved the purchase? Seems silly to me, but I am sure there is more to it than I am aware of, or at least I hope so.

They are just trying to figure out how to get more money from Apple .

 

[Porco]

Apple should just make what they do great and let others worry about trying to do the same, not try to leverage their power to undermine other companies' business models. Not only could it get them in hot water again, it's just plain wrong.

 

[mitso]

I suspect Jay-Z is behind this one but why wouldn't Apple like to squeeze out the competition (Spotify). Although this will result in hurting the pocket of consumers.

 

[Skika]

I suspect Jay-Z is behind this one but why wouldn't Apple like to squeeze out the competition (Spotify). Although this will result in hurting the pocket of consumers.

Lol yeah im sure thats it.

 

[AHDuke99]

I imagine this might go like Microsoft and IE in Europe years ago where MS was prohibited from bundling IE with Windows.

 

[RJCP]

As a European citizen, this continent's technological advance is crippled by Medieval bureaucratic non-sense. Take the UK for example, with less than 20 banks and yet Apple hasn't managed to overcome all the bureaucratic obstacles to launch apple pay. Yet the same banks are happily pushing contactless payment cards which allow you to pay without any sort of security or authentication.

Rumour has it that Apple is working with NHS to try and modernise the hospital system. Boy, is Apple in for a lifetime of frustration...

 

[Menel]

And our EU forum friends wonder why they don't always get the full suite of Apple features.

----------

I imagine this might go like Microsoft and IE in Europe years ago where MS was prohibited from bundling IE with Windows.

Microsoft had 90+% market share.
vs
iOS has a mere 20% market share. They aren't anywhere close to abusing any sort of monopoly position. They don't have anything that looks remotely like a monopoly position.
http://www.idc.com/prodserv/smartphone-os-market-share.jsp

The EU going after them, is merely a money grab by corrupt politicians.

 

[mitso]

Lol yeah im sure thats it.

and Kanye too..

 

[capuzino]

Everything that sounds or is too good to be true seems to go down because European Commission is concerned.

But I wonder why they aren't concerned about Tidal, where all new songs from owning artists are exclusive and where Taylor Swift can be listened at?

 

[Truffy]

And our EU forum friends wonder why they don't always get the full suite of Apple features.

----------

Microsoft had 90+% market share.
vs
iOS has a mere 20% market share. They aren't anywhere close to abusing any sort of monopoly position. They don't have anything that looks remotely like a monopoly position.
http://www.idc.com/prodserv/smartphone-os-market-share.jsp

The EU going after them, is merely a money grab by corrupt politicians.

Most Brussels politicians are too inept to be corrupt.

 

[MH01]

Interesting how everyone is defending apple and having a dig at the EU commission without knowing the facts.

Wonder if these same people will also complain when their free spotify or other service that is funded by ads loses labels.

Think of the consequences that this article is hinting at.

 

[Compile 'em all]

And our EU forum friends wonder why they don't always get the full suite of Apple features.

----------

Microsoft had 90+% market share.
vs
iOS has a mere 20% market share. They aren't anywhere close to abusing any sort of monopoly position. They don't have anything that looks remotely like a monopoly position.
http://www.idc.com/prodserv/smartphone-os-market-share.jsp

The EU going after them, is merely a money grab by corrupt politicians.

Actually unlike the United States gov which doesn't give a flying cow about their citizen's privacy, the EU has incredibly strict privacy and anti-competition laws. In the US, Facebook can do literally anything with your data. Many privacy-invading features of Facebook are actually disabled in EU countries. Every single website accessed from the EU is required to show a disclaimer that they are putting a cookie on your machine. etc etc.

 

[MH01]

And our EU forum friends wonder why they don't always get the full suite of Apple features.

----------

Microsoft had 90+% market share.
vs
iOS has a mere 20% market share. They aren't anywhere close to abusing any sort of monopoly position. They don't have anything that looks remotely like a monopoly position.
http://www.idc.com/prodserv/smartphone-os-market-share.jsp

The EU going after them, is merely a money grab by corrupt politicians.

I don't think politicians are corrupt if they expect a company to pay their taxes?

Let's see what the "concerned" ends up being.

 

[verpeiler]

Dear american friends, this is just an investigation. Save your breath for more imporant things to cry about... like in your own country ;-)

 

[Rogifan]

Apple should just make what they do great and let others worry about trying to do the same, not try to leverage their power to undermine other companies' business models. Not only could it get them in hot water again, it's just plain wrong.

What evidence do we have of this regarding Apple's streaming music plans?

 

[numlock]

As a European citizen, this continent's technological advance is crippled by Medieval bureaucratic non-sense. Take the UK for example, with less than 20 banks and yet Apple hasn't managed to overcome all the bureaucratic obstacles to launch apple pay. Yet the same banks are happily pushing contactless payment cards which allow you to pay without any sort of security or authentication.

Rumour has it that Apple is working with NHS to try and modernise the hospital system. Boy, is Apple in for a lifetime of frustration...

where has that been reported?

And our EU forum friends wonder why they don't always get the full suite of Apple features.

what specific features have had to be dropped because of EU regulations?

 

[Abazigal]

Interesting how everyone is defending apple and having a dig at the EU commission without knowing the facts.

Wonder if these same people will also complain when their free spotify or other service that is funded by ads loses labels.

Think of the consequences that this article is hinting at.

From what I gather, services like spotify are problematic in that despite their large subscriber base, they still aren't earning enough to pay the artistes decent rates.

It seems that such a model was flawed and unsustainable to begin with. Maybe it does deserve to die in favour of another service that might represent a better win-win scenario for all parties involved.

 

[yjchua95]

This is one of the times I'm glad that my birth country isn't part of the EU.

There's just too much bureaucracy in the EU.

 

[numlock]

From what I gather, services like spotify are problematic in that despite their large subscriber base, they still aren't earning enough to pay the artistes decent rates.

It seems that such a model was flawed and unsustainable to begin with. Maybe it does deserve to die in favour of another service that might represent a better win-win scenario for all parties involved.

decent is subjective but will a service that charges less pay a higher rate?

 

[Rogifan]

Interesting how everyone is defending apple and having a dig at the EU commission without knowing the facts.

Wonder if these same people will also complain when their free spotify or other service that is funded by ads loses labels.

Think of the consequences that this article is hinting at.

So the busybodies bureaucrats at the EC are concerned Apple might do something in the future so they're going to investigate. Good to see The bureaucrats have their priorities straight.

 

[Jimmy James]

They've started preliminary investigations because Apple is big. Got it.