Spotify has torn into Apple again, this time over the new Apple One subscription bundle

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Spotify has torn into Apple again, this time over the new Apple One subscription bundle
Apple CEO Tim Cook.Karl Mondon/Digital First Media/The Mercury News via Getty Images
  • Apple announced a new bundle subscription service on Tuesday called Apple One, which includes existing services such as Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, and Apple Arcade.
  • Music streaming giant Spotify reacted by accusing Apple of anticompetitive behavior, saying the bundle allows Apple to favor its own services to the detriment of developers.
  • It called on regulators to check Apple's power before it causes "irreparable harm to the developer community."
  • In response, Apple said that "customers can discover and enjoy alternatives to every one of Apple's services," and that the bundle "is a great value for customers and a simple way to access the full range of Apple's subscription services."
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Spotify has accused Apple of anticompetitive behavior following the announcement of Apple One, a subscription bundle that ties together existing services including Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, and Apple Arcade.

Following Apple's Tuesday announcement, music streaming giant Spotify immediately called on regulators to step in, saying the bundle would hurt both consumers and developers.

"Once again, Apple is using its dominant position and unfair practices to disadvantage competitors and deprive consumers by favoring its own services," Spotify said in a statement. "We call on competition authorities to act urgently to restrict Apple's anti-competitive behavior, which if left unchecked, will cause irreparable harm to the developer community and threaten our collective freedoms to listen, learn, create, and connect."

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Apple responded demurely in a statement to Reuters. "Customers can discover and enjoy alternatives to every one of Apple's services," it said. "We're introducing Apple One because it is a great value for customers and a simple way to access the full range of Apple's subscription services.

"We'll be recommending the Apple One plan that saves you the most money based on the subscriptions you already have. It's perfect for anyone who loves any of our services and wants to get more for less, and it's especially great for families. Also select services included in Apple One are available to enjoy on non-Apple devices, and you can cancel anytime."

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This isn't the first time Spotify has accused Apple of anticompetitive behavior.

It filed an official complaint with the EU in March 2019, saying that by operating the App Store while simultaneously launching its own music streaming service, Apple could give itself an unfair advantage. In an open letter at the time, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek accused Apple of acting "as both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers."

Apple responded forcefully, accusing Spotify of trying to reap the benefits of the App Store without contributing to it.

Spotify's complaint resulted in the EU opening an investigation into Apple's App Store policies in June of this year, specifically examining Apple's mandatory 15-30% commission on in-app payments.

Apple has got into several high-profile fights over that commission over the past few months, including with "Fortnite" maker Epic Games and Facebook.

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