Spotify and Apple in Talks to Let Siri Play Spotify Content

[MacRumors]

Spotify and Apple are in talks over a potential "truce" that would allow Siri to play songs, playlists, and albums from Spotify via voice commands from iPhone users, reports The Information.

Apple in iOS 13 is introducing SiriKit changes that will allow Siri to play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and radio from third-party apps, which seems to be the feature that the two companies have been discussing.

The SiriKit changes will let Spotify and other developers build Siri support into their apps, letting users control audio playback with Siri commands. Users will be able to use commands like "Hey Siri, play Fleetwood Mac from Spotify" to access Spotify instead of Apple Music.

Apple has similar Siri features for third-party messaging apps, allowing Siri commands to be used to send messages using WhatsApp and other apps instead of the Messages app. Siri commands also work with third-party ride sharing, workout, payments, photo, and VoIP apps.

Should Apple and Spotify come to an agreement about the new feature, Apple Music is expected to remain the default music streaming service on Apple devices when users ask Siri to play songs, according to one of the sources that spoke to The Information.

A mockup of what Spotify's Siri integration could look like​

The conversations between Apple and Spotify come following a March antitrust complaint from Spotify in the European Union, where Spotify claimed that Apple's App Store rules "limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience."

In its complaint, Spotify called out Apple's 30 percent fee for third-party apps in the App Store, which Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said gives Apple an "unfair advantage" for Apple Music. Ek also complained about Apple's "experience-limiting restrictions," locking Spotify and other competitors out of services like Siri.

Spotify's complaint has resulted in a formal investigation of Apple's App Store practices by the European Competition Commission, which is ongoing.

On its "Time to Play Fair" website that outlines its dispute with Apple, Spotify recently changed wording reflecting the SiriKit changes in iOS 13. It used to read as follows: "Apple won't allow us to be on HomePod and they definitely won't let us connect with Siri to play your jams."

After an update, the website now says the following: "Only recently, Apple announced that it will let us connect with Siri to play your jams...but fails to mention our name ("I want to play [X] on Spotify") and your HomePod will default to Apple Music." The wording changes suggest Spotify will indeed implement Siri support, but the company still seems to be unhappy with the inability to set Spotify as the default music service on Apple devices.

Article Link: Spotify and Apple in Talks to Let Siri Play Spotify Content

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I've no doubt Apple will drag the talks out as Spotify's market share continues to decrease...

 

[AdonisSMU]

Apple should tell them to drop dead.

 

[aloshka]

That would be awesome

 

[sydneysider88]

Yes please! And add HomePod support while you’re at it.

 

[ipponrg]

This is good news for consumers. Hopefully it plays out.

 

[Rogifan]

I’m confused. If SiriKit changes in iOS 13 will allow this what discussions do they need to have?

Anyway, Apple should be competing by providing the better service, not limiting features for 3rd party apps to make them less attractive.

 

[Motawa]

"Cant afford" lol

 

[iDento]

I only use Siri for Shortcuts, it’s simply useless for anything else I want to use it for. Point is, this won’t make that much difference for Spotify anyway.

 

[Konigi]

Noice! And I hope Spotify will have an app coming to the AppleTV!

 

[Santabean2000]

More options are good. Guess this is a result of Apple under pressure to 'play fair'.

 

[Mikey44]

"We want our cake, and we want to eat it too."

This is exactly what this sounds like.

 

[Rogifan]

More options are good. Guess this is a result of Apple under pressure to 'play fair'.

“Apple in iOS 13 is introducing SiriKit changes that will allow Siri to play music, podcasts, audiobooks, and radio from third-party apps, which seems to be the feature that the two companies have been discussing.”

This article is confusing. If iOS 13 changes to SiriKit allow Siri to play music and other audio from 3rd party apps wouldn’t that automatically include Spotify?

 

[wigby]

I only use Siri for Shortcuts, it’s simply useless for anything else I want to use it for. Point is, this won’t make that much difference for Spotify anyway.

Siri is used 100x more for music playback than for shortcuts. I think the data would disagree with you.

 

[Blackstick]

I love Spotify, but Apple doesn't. As such, I don't expect them to be throwing many bones their way.

I couldn't get into Apple Music, and the app is to blame.

 

[nnoble]

Choice should be welcome by any reasonable Apple user. Why would anyone (comment 3 above?) object?

 

[kis]

Apple should tell them to drop dead.

Everything else ok in your life?

 

[Timemaster]

It might be worth looking at if Apple would allow me to change my default player.

 

[nnoble]

Apple should tell them to drop dead.

Why?

 

[S.B.G]

Apple should tell them to drop dead.

Why?

This would be a great way for Apple to boost HomePod sales for sure. Plus giving users a choice is always welcomed.

 

[kis]

"We want our cake, and we want to eat it too."

This is exactly what this sounds like.

Spotify is still dominating the market. I'd say Apple just wants to avoid being investigated by the EU commission for anti-competitive behaviour. They're already prepping that for the App Store.

 

[realtuner]

Anyway, Apple should be competing by providing the better service, not limiting features for 3rd party apps to make them less attractive.

Apple isn’t limiting features. Siri started out locked down to Apple only. Over the years Apple has increased functionality and allowed Siri to be used with more and more 3rd party Apps.

Apple also did this with multitasking, TouchID and NFC (initially Apple only and locked down, then expanded later on). This is Apples MO.

Now if Siri initially worked with everything, and then Apple intentionally cut off Spotify (for example), then I’d agree Apple is “limiting” features.

 

[AdonisSMU]

Choice should be welcome by any reasonable Apple user. Why would anyone (comment 3 above?) object?

Isn't it obvious Spotify is campaigning against Apple....even though it gets preferential treatment compared to other Apple Developers.

 

[mdnz]

Apple should tell them to drop dead.

Yeah screw competition, I'd gladly pay $40 per month for Apple Music!

 

[kis]

Apple isn’t limiting features. Siri started out locked down to Apple only. Over the years Apple has increased functionality and allowed Siri to be used with more and more 3rd party Apps.

Apple also did this with multitasking, TouchID and NFC (initially Apple only and locked down, then expanded later on). This is Apples MO.

Now if Siri initially worked with everything, and then Apple intentionally cut off Spotify (for example), then I’d agree Apple is “limiting” features.

NFC is a very bad example for this. Apple has been under investigation for locking down NFC to shut out competing payment solutions in several European countries. Only that forced them to open things up. The same thing is likely happening with Spotify as well and is already happening for the App Store.