Wow, this is like a relationship where one partner tries hard to convey frustration and the other one not hearing any frustration at all but ends up making them about themselves. At first I just felt Spotify was being a little dramatic, like mom and dad fighting, but Apple's response is infuriating. I actually feel really bad for Spotify now. Yes they're a business, but the things Apple is accusing them of is the very thing Apple also does.
Addressing Spotify’s Claims
521–530 of 688 posts
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#522Earlier quoted context omitted.
> So their choice on iOS is pay the tax or don't have a presence If I want my music in the Spotify catalog who decides what's my cut and what's Spotify's cut of the money my music is generating? They have 100% control there so if I want to list my music there what are my choices? Pay up or not have a presence. Apple's choice is to give them access to millions of customers with big pockets (statistically), maintain th…
> If I want my music in the Spotify catalog who decides what's my cut and what's Spotify's cut of the money my music is generating? They have 100% control there so if I want to list my music there what are my choices? Pay up or not have a presence. Indeed. This same argument has been ranging on for years about music streaming services and ebooks via Amazon too. So it's not just Apple who get put under the spotlight.…
> I think that's a little disingenuous.
It's not really. Crying wolf is a bit hypocritical seeing how both engage in the exact same practices but only one is coming up with the sob story.
> I don't think Spotify has mislead anyone any more than Apple are misleading people
They came in the court of public opinion asking for fair treatment while misleading and giving half the story in their very loud complaint. They lost their moral high ground. Even worse since they're a company doing the exact same thing to artists. My point is, when you're in the same pigsty keep a low profile ;).
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#523Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a disingenuous argument, you have to buy a PC to develop Windows. And you have to pay $100-300 for windows, AND you have to play $600-$2500 _per year_ for Visual Studio
No it's not. You can buy a PC from many different vendors, HP, Lenevo, Dell etc. They compete and the price goes down, and customers get a choice. You can also run linux for free and use VSCode for free which also runs on Linux. With Apple I have to buy the PC from Apple at it's marked up price since no competition. So it is a fair point.
What do you mean no competition?
Why on earth would you want to develop Mac software without buying a Mac? This argument really does make no sense at all. It’s like complaining that if you want to drive Porsche, you have to buy a Porsche from Porsche. Er, yeah. That’s how that works.
Please quibble about renting and dealerships or something. Please. I dare you. I double dare you! I swear I won’t stop laughing for a week.
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#524I like the fact that apple published the contacts for further inquiries related to this debacle (found on the bottom of the article). Their openness and transparency in providing these information deserves an applause.
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#525As with so many matters that involve money, arguments fly around left and right that claim to be on principle, but really aren't. When you see ESPN and Comcast argue over showing the World Series, don't buy the argument that one of them is "trying to prevent loyal customers from being able to see their favorite game", or when your local hospital group withdraws from your employer health plan that "the other side is t…
If you price something too high, people without money will bring their picforks and broom and french revolution will happen.
Someone like these tech might end up hanging, don't believe? It's already happening slowly.
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#526Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think they may be specifically referring to the most recent royalties hike that was opposed by Amazon, Spotify, but supported by Apple. Was most likely a PR move to make Apple look like a supporter of artists.
According to this infographic (linked below), it seems like Apple Music does give more average revenue per play than Spotify, $0.0060 for vs $0.0044. But in general, Apple Music isn’t _that_ much better than the rest where paying artists goes. It lags far below tidal, for example, which doles out $0.0125 per play on average. https://informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/spotify-ap...
However, it's worth noting that Tidal has been accused of inflating its streaming numbers: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/did-tidal-falsify-str...
Tidal's model is supposedly more literally like the proverbial "pie", where the most popular artists get the biggest cut. So if it's true that they inflate numbers for Jay Z and Beyonce, then other artists are being deprived of revenue.
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#527Earlier quoted context omitted.
I keep hearing this but it doesn't make it true: Apple does not have dominance in the smartphone market. It barely reaches 20% of the smartphone market in the EU.
It's not about how much dominance it has. It treats its own music platform differently (not subject to Apple Store fees) than any other music platform. Like Microsoft bundling/treating IE differently to any other browser on its platform.
Lots of regulations in that area are tied to market influence. The Microsoft case was about Microsoft pushing IE through their dominance in PC sales.
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#528Would be super fun if Apple removed Spotify from the App Store. The ensuing drama would be really entertaining.
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#529Earlier quoted context omitted.
They can always create their own mobile platform, if they think Apple providing them with one is not worth much to them... After all Google and Apple did.
Just as Apple could allow them to build their own payment stack into it and circumvent the app store. But they don't.
Well, you build the environment, you make the rules is kind of the whole point.
Re: Addressing Spotify’s Claims
#530I love how brazen this letter is. > Apple’s approach has always been to grow the pie. Apple's approach has always been to grow it's own pie. They have never been even remotely interested in playing nicely with other companies. I don't fault them for it, but let's not kid ourselves here; the app store is largely an extremely profitable exercise in rent seeking. It's not like this is new for Apple; they've had propriet…
There’s a thread of truth in what you’re saying, but it unravels on close inspection. Proprietary cables are hardly new, and to be fair those cables and connectors are usually way better than the standard stuff. Firewire and thunderbolt were actually released as open standards and saw decent adoption. Lightning is far superior to Micro-USB. Just listen to the wailing and gnashing of teeth by Macbook owners having to…
Apple publishes an iOS simulator, not an emulator, which is a totally different thing.