Spotify Encourages Customers to Cancel App Store Subscription, Resubscribe via Web to Save $3

[MacRumors]

Spotify is sending emails to its customers encouraging them to stop paying for the Spotify music service through Apple's App Store, reports The Verge. The email informs customers they can save $3 per month on their Spotify fees by canceling their App Store Spotify subscription and resubscribing through the Spotify website.

Spotify subscriptions that people signed up for using the App Store are priced at $12.99 to account for the 30 percent fee that Apple collects for all app and subscription revenue routed through the App Store. The same service is priced at $9.99 through Spotify's website.

Customers who subscribe to Spotify through the App Store might mistakenly think that Spotify is more expensive than Apple's new streaming service, Apple Music, which is also priced at $9.99 per month. That's true, but only when the service is purchased via the App Store.

Spotify's emails are accompanied by a step-by-step tutorial that walks customers through the process of turning off auto-renew on their App Store subscriptions and then instructs them to wait for the service to run out before resubscribing to the Spotify service on the web.

Spotify continues to be the dominant on-demand streaming service in the music industry with 75 million active users and 20 million paid subscribers, but it is unclear what impact Apple Music will have on the company's business.

Article Link: Spotify Encourages Customers to Cancel App Store Subscription, Resubscribe via Web to Save $3

 

[gpat]

How could ever Apple get upset about this?

 

[goonie4life9]

Spotify is sending emails to its customers encouraging them to stop paying for the Spotify music service through Apple's App Store, reports The Verge. The email informs customers they can save $3 per month on their Spotify fees by canceling their App Store Spotify subscription and resubscribing through the Spotify website.

Spotify subscriptions that people signed up for using the App Store are priced at $12.99 to account for the 30 percent fee that Apple collects for all app and subscription revenue routed through the App Store. The same service is priced at $9.99 through Spotify's website.

Customers who subscribe to Spotify through the App Store might mistakenly think that Spotify is more expensive than Apple's new streaming service, Apple Music, which is also priced at $9.99 per month. That's true, but only when the service is purchased via the App Store.

Spotify's emails are accompanied by a step-by-step tutorial that walks customers through the process of turning off auto-renew on their App Store subscriptions and then instructs them to wait for the service to run out before resubscribing to the Spotify service on the web.

Spotify continues to be the dominant on-demand streaming service in the music industry with 75 million active users and 20 million paid subscribers, but it is unclear what impact Apple Music will have on the company's business.

Article Link: Spotify Encourages Customers to Cancel App Store Subscription, Resubscribe via Web to Save $3

Begun, the streaming music wars have.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

That's wonderful. Thanks Spotify!

 

[bbfc]

Why would anyone subscribe through iTunes when's it's more expensive??

 

[east85]

Good move by Spotify. Streaming is a competitive market and being in the position that Apple is in, they are definitely capable of leveraging this unfair advantage. I don't take any issue with Spotify responding like this, makes complete sense.

 

[DavidBlack]

I wonder why only now they've decided to do this...

 

[aidancbrady]

it is unclear what impact Apple Music will have on the company's business.

I think it's fairly clear.

 

[Hog Milanese]

Shots fired.

 

[nepalisherpa]

People were actually paying $12.99 for a service that costs $9.99? Also, it's pretty sad that Spotify was actually charging the higher amount to compensate for Apple tax.

 

[brunosh]

Ouch! Someone's scared..

 

[DakotaGuy]

Spotify is scared and knows when Apple enters a market it's usually lights out for the little guy. Of course Apple Music has to work right first...

 

[Rafagon]

I love this. Hit Apple where it hurts, Spotify! *cheering*

 

[WB2Colorado]

Spotify is sending emails to its customers encouraging them to stop paying for the Spotify music service through Apple's App Store, reports The Verge. The email informs customers they can save $3 per month on their Spotify fees by canceling their App Store Spotify subscription and resubscribing through the Spotify website.

Spotify subscriptions that people signed up for using the App Store are priced at $12.99 to account for the 30 percent fee that Apple collects for all app and subscription revenue routed through the App Store. The same service is priced at $9.99 through Spotify's website.

Customers who subscribe to Spotify through the App Store might mistakenly think that Spotify is more expensive than Apple's new streaming service, Apple Music, which is also priced at $9.99 per month. That's true, but only when the service is purchased via the App Store.

Spotify's emails are accompanied by a step-by-step tutorial that walks customers through the process of turning off auto-renew on their App Store subscriptions and then instructs them to wait for the service to run out before resubscribing to the Spotify service on the web.

Spotify continues to be the dominant on-demand streaming service in the music industry with 75 million active users and 20 million paid subscribers, but it is unclear what impact Apple Music will have on the company's business.

Article Link: Spotify Encourages Customers to Cancel App Store Subscription, Resubscribe via Web to Save $3

Isn't it against Apple's In App Subscription rules to charge more through the App Store?

 

[DipDog3]

How many of these $13 users can there really be?

 

[antiretro]

in before apple REMOVES spotify from app store...

 

[Razeus]

I've already switched back to Spotify after the Apple Music disaster.

 

[bushido]

Isn't it against Apple's In App Subscription rules to charge more through the App Store?

i dont think a company can tell another company what to charge for their services on their own site. this isnt north korea

--

Spotify got balls. i would be scared they cancel and never come back

 

[MickeyAlexander]

Not surprising how the wording in their e-mail makes it seem like APPLE is the one charging users an extra 30% directly.

 

[d0minick]

Its unfortunate. Apple music doesn't hold a candle to spotify. The music is so slow to play. Sucks, i was hoping to get rid of spotify and free up some space.

 

[Jazwire]

Now, offer a better family plan.

1 of the main reasons I left Spotify for Apple.

 

[mabhatter]

How could ever Apple get upset about this?

Subscriptions are supposed to be priced the same in or out of the App Store. Now that Apple has a service Spotify is gonna get nailed by "Da Rules" for this. I give it till the end of the week.

 

[kajoob]

Why would anyone subscribe through iTunes when's it's more expensive??

What is the actual price when paying through iTunes? The in-app purchase menu lists varying degrees of subscription rates, but doesn't explain what each price point gets you:

 

[jdillings]

Why would anyone subscribe through iTunes when's it's more expensive??

It isn't that much more expensive if you use gift cards. You can easily pick up gift cards at 20%/25% off and use them for Spotify, Netflix, HBO, etc.

This is nothing more than a desperation move to try to lessen the amount of cancellations as a result of the launch of Apple Music. I don't see many taking the bait as Apple Music is better and costs less.

 

[Jeremy1026]

Quite frankly, its ******** that Spotify upcharges for in-app subscriptions over doing it via web. If charging your customers a $4 premium just so they don't leave the app is ridiculous. I know the App Store rules say that you can't force users out of the app but come on.