Spotify Punishing Artists Who Offer Apple Music Exclusives [Updated]

[touchstoned]

In one corner, you have a relatively small company who's entire business is streaming music, loved by many, preferred by many and, until Apple decided to become a competitor, considered by even the biggest Apple fans as one of the very best at what they do.

In the other corner you have a gigantic corporation who has decided to add steaming music as yet another source of revenue to it's ever-growing empire.

The "David" in this particular tale is trying to survive against long odds (Goliath has unlimited financial resources, Goliath's competing solution is default on every iDevice sold, woven into the fundamental music playing app that everyone uses (probably first) when they first acquire an iDevice, etc). The "Goliath" is flexing it's massive muscles and wealth to pressure "David" into submission, killing a free service preferred by millions of our fellow consumers, etc. to, presumably, prop up the appeal of it's own music subscription service.

At another time, Apple played David and Wintel was Goliath. Of course we sided with the underdog in THAT situation. Are we so right... so certain that the David in THIS situation is the "villain" and Goliath is so very right? Sure, the details of this story paints this David in a bad light but think about why they are "punishing" artists. What is the driver of such "punishment"? Why would they take such an action that they know can be PR spun so obviously negative?

Because they ARE evil or stupid? Else, what else is in play here to motivate such action?

These actions would be more or less typical for the historical personality (as depicted in the old testament) of King David of Judea. David was not an "ethical" King, even by ancient hebrew standards.

 

[appledefenceforce]

But you will care when we get the price hike on Apple products, I agree on Apple getting away with far too much, but then so does BT and Sky etc etc so they aren't special in that regard.
I still would use Spotify anyway due to the fact Apples interface is garbage and it kinda shoves Apple Music down your throat in its iPod app. It would be my protest to them haha.

Oh hyperbole

 

[Frosties]

There was an article in Swedish press Today that the exclusive albums only drive top downloading on pirate bay and other torrent sites, not giving full use for the artist going exclusive on Apple or tidal or some other service.

I am positive there are some artist that gain more going exklusive, pirate music Today is not as big with streaming being as good platform as it is. But many still do.

I just don't care for these walled gardens with all other good music there is Today to bring joy to my day. If some artist want to exlude me then go ahead. You will just not get my revenue stream.

 

[pcmacgamer]

Well. Except for the artists. Or are they just greedy too?

Doesn't serve them because it only limits who can hear them.

 

[iBluetooth]

I guess I am getting old, I neither like Spotify nor Apple Music, I prefer real Radio which is free, sadly apple decided not to have a radio tuner app on the iPhone (read greed), the hardware is there.

Radio is not free - it has commercials! What hardware does the iPhone have to listen to radio tuner?
[doublepost=1472259030][/doublepost]It is sad that Spotify started this claiming Apple didn't allow them to have their app without the profit share. And now the focus is on their bad business behaviour to punish artists for doing deals with others. Demanding lower price from the labels because they are preparing for an IPO!

 

[Abazigal]

So someone isn't being fully truthful or is being outright deceitful here. Of you'd expect Spotify to publicly deny the story, because to admit it would probably be fraught with legal issues for them.

In the very least, how would one even go about verifying or debunking such a rumour?

I imagine album rankings would be very subjective. Just because a certain artiste doesn't appear in my "recommended" tab doesn't necessarily mean that Spotify is deliberately limiting the exposure that artiste gets. It could just mean that the recommendation algorithm felt that their music simply wasn't suitable for me, and so is promoting other songs which they feel are a better fit for my tastes.

How do you even begin to objective prove such a thing?

 

[Tsuchiya]

This is a fight I don't want to see Spotify lose, but I can't see them winning long term against Apple.

 

[ultravisitor]

I'm just glad I use neither Apple Music nor Spotify.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

McDonald's isn't the exclusive seller of Coca Cola products.

And Apple Music isn't the only way to obtain this 'exclusive' music. Most if not all is available for purchase on compact disc or phonograph.

 

[Mactendo]

A price war?

How dense is everyone to think that 10$ a month for an all you can eat music library is not impossibly low?

We have the family plan at 15$ a month and I feel guilty knowing how much less the artists are receiving.

The price of these services will never fall below $10 a month. Ever. Full stop.

Now we need such universal worldwide service for TV and movies (with international subs or voice over if available). That'd be the communism.
And will make someone who achieves that very rich.

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Exclusives need to die. They're been a blight on the games industry for decades, and they caused chaos with the early days of blu-ray and HD-DVD. Format wars should be fought on price, nothing more.

If format wars were fought on "price and nothing more" we would still be watching movies on 8mm film.

 

[waitandwait]

Just wondering if Apple Music as a stand alone business also would 'struggling'

How much of the Apple Music bill is actually being paid by Apple? Could Apple Music survive without the financial and technical support from Apple?

Apple earned so much of our money from iphones, ipads and watches to fund Apple Music..

 

[Iconoclysm]

You heard it here first, folks. Standing up for consumers is petty and passive aggressive.

MacRumors mods - can I print off this thread and use it as the script for my new multi-camera sitcom, "This Is Exactly Why Everyone Hates Apple Users"?

Definitely standing up for consumers by ruining their experience.

 

[Mactendo]

I guess I am getting old, I neither like Spotify nor Apple Music, I prefer real Radio which is free, sadly apple decided not to have a radio tuner app on the iPhone (read greed), the hardware is there.

Try this one. Cute and easy to use, like a real radio
#simplyradio http://goo.gl/OHlpgs

 

[Iconoclysm]

This is specifically not about two week timed exclusives, as the Spotify execs have stated. They have no issues with short-term exclusives. Did you just read the headline and come here to feel outraged? Educate yourself before running your mouth.

Yeah, I'm completely outraged...by your ridiculous comments!

 

[waitandwait]

The moment Apple does such censorship, it will be reported to the EU comission for unfair competition and likely would face a huge fine and if not complying with the likely ruling of allowing Spotify compete... Apple would also face a ban of sales in the EU.

Do you really think Apple wants to drop one of its main markets? Obviously not. So it won't happen.

Not that I like Spotify that much... but I think that the bad guy here is Apple as it is likely using its deep pocket to buy those exclusives (and recently we learnt Apple is pushing the royalties it pays higher to take competition out of the market...)

Bad guy is apple? Strange talking.

If you open a clothing shop, you will want to get rare, exclusive items for your shop to differentiate yourself from the 10,000 clothing shops.

This is called product differentiation.

 

[Iconoclysm]

They're not bribing them in the same way Apple and Tidal are.

You seem to be incredibly confused over what is bribery and what is making a business deal with an artist that already prefers to work with you over the competition who have all but completely screwed them over with the streaming music business model.
[doublepost=1472264885][/doublepost]

Exclusives need to die. They're been a blight on the games industry for decades, and they caused chaos with the early days of blu-ray and HD-DVD. Format wars should be fought on price, nothing more.

Interesting, because Spotify is crying about that too.

 

[anonnymouse]

A price war?

How dense is everyone to think that 10$ a month for an all you can eat music library is not impossibly low?

We have the family plan at 15$ a month and I feel guilty knowing how much less the artists are receiving.

The price of these services will never fall below $10 a month. Ever. Full stop.

http://www.apple.com/music/membership/

$4.99/mo (US) for a (4 year) student membership.

 

[enriquesh96]

This is beyond stupid. They are actually hurting their customers by doing this...

 

[bretfoster]

Spotify has little to worry about as long as Apple Music interface and stability is so horrible. Spotify works and works well. Apple Music seems like it was designed by an app development app! I honestly know no one that is a serious music lover that subscribes to Apple Music.

 

[ani4ani]

Best part of 300 posts on a assertion that Spotify states is "unequivocally false." and common sense would suggest that they would not be doing this.

 

[Solomani]

And Apple Music isn't the only way to obtain this 'exclusive' music. Most if not all is available for purchase on compact disc or phonograph.

Agreed. And the Apple Music exclusivity (in most cases) is a freakin' TWO WEEKS. The crybabies think it's the "end of the world" that they are prevented streaming access to Lady Gaga's latest album for two weeks. Talk about first world entitlement problems. They want the US Government to intervene because they cannot access someone's album for the first two weeks of debut.

 

[kaneda]

Why do they have to worry? Apple Music sucks! I am using Spotify all the times now.

 

[Shirasaki]

I missed the Chance to reply in first few pages.
But if possible I would like to pay ARTIST outright, and pay nothing to labels and publishers. Artist is the only side which is eligible to receive payments from album buyers.

And two weeks for album release is already deadly. Don't think two weeks are not long. For a lot of people, once they cannot listen to the latest in first two weeks, they will give up and forget about it. Not everyone have the patience to wait over 2 weeks to buy an album like I do. Exclusivity will hurt music industry real hard.
[doublepost=1472271676][/doublepost]

Why do they have to worry? Apple Music sucks! I am using Spotify all the times now.

And it's free. Ads are almost nothing.

 

[Abazigal]

Spotify has little to worry about as long as Apple Music interface and stability is so horrible. Spotify works and works well. Apple Music seems like it was designed by an app development app! I honestly know no one that is a serious music lover that subscribes to Apple Music.

Well, it's no secret that Spotify has yet to turn a profit.

So in theory, Apple doesn't really need to do anything but stand in one corner and wait for Spotify to simply run out of cash.

And it's free. Ads are almost nothing.

The irony here is that you are likely costing Spotify more money than you are bringing in for them. So yes, continue to love and support Spotify more in your free, ad-supported way. It will just hasten Spotify's demise.