Skip to main content

Bloom.fm claims Apple is blocking rival music services from buying iAds

Bloom.fm, a UK-based streaming music service, is claiming Apple has banned it from advertising through iAd advertising platform because the company is a competing service to iTunes Radio. Apple’s advertising platform recently started selling ads for Apple’s free, ad-supported iTunes Radio service, but the Bloom.fm had been spending £2,000/month on iAds placed as banner ads in apps. The company had some words about being banned from Apple’s advertising platform on its Twitter account and also provided a statement to TheRegister and others:

Apple wrote to Bloom today and claimed it was a direct competitor to iRadio, which is surprising because this Apple-operated service does not yet exist in the UK…John Clark, Bloom’s spokesman, told us the small company was surprised to have found itself in Apple’s crosshairs.

“We’re a small company from west London made up of just 27 people. It’s amusing and flattering to have been noticed by a monstrous company like Apple. They told us we are a competitive service to iTunes radio, despite the fact we are UK-only and iRadio has not launched here.”

Apple’s new iTunes Radio streaming service is free to users but relies on audio and display advertisements that it sells through the iAd platform for users that don’t pay for the $25 a year iTunes Match service. Apple recently rolled out the service to Australia after launching first in the US, and the company previously announced the service will launch in “more than 100 countries.”

Earlier this week reports claimed that Apple was considering a “dramatic overhaul” for iTunes and new on-demand streaming options due to lack of traction with iTunes Radio.

[tweet https://twitter.com/bloomfm/status/453860886391050240]

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. Scott Rose - 10 years ago

    This is truly disgusting of Apple. What a terrible monopolistic company they have become. This is similar to how Apple removed all the Bitcoin apps from the App Store because they all compete with Apple’s forthcoming payment system. In all of these cases, Apple is clearly terrified that when given a choice of services, people will NOT choose Apple’s products. And with good reason: Apple’s software services are usually inferior to the competition.

    • Tallest Skil - 10 years ago

      Could you maybe stop with the lies and such? That’d be great.

    • musclecarlover07 - 10 years ago

      Really you must be a serious moron. That would basically be Apple giving away their customers on a silver platter.

    • theoddshipp - 9 years ago

      Honestly it’s their business, they can choose to do business with whomever they want. You are such a troll

  2. Lee (@leemahi) - 10 years ago

    That’s fine. I’ll be switching to android very soon. Appholes

  3. scumbolt2014 - 10 years ago

    So what? It is Apple’s netwok and they can run it any damn way they please. These whiners need to stfu. Google rakes its customers over the coals the way they randomly change SEO and SEM algorithms without a word to any of their customers. They are the worst but all the glassholes are blind to their corrupt policies.

    • musclecarlover07 - 10 years ago

      I agree. Apple wants to that with THEIR products and services so be it. They own it and if you don’t like it then leave. That simple.

  4. scumbolt2014 - 10 years ago

    Bloom.fm: Eat A Dick

  5. shm1ck83 - 10 years ago

    I don’t see the problem here. You don’t hear radio stations promoting other radio stations.
    Would Target promote Kmart in their catalogues? No!

    • desdinova70 - 10 years ago

      Agreed. You don’t see Spotify ads at Pandora or vice versa. You don’t see Amazon ads at Newegg or vice versa. This is just simple advertising and marketing 101.

  6. yuniverse7 - 10 years ago

    I don’t understand the rage against Apple on this. Would Google advertise Apple products? Would Samsung let Apple advertisement be on their products? Monopolistic? Whatever, Scott Rose!

    • You’re 100% right. I would do the same if I had to make this decision and I think there’s not a problem with that. What do you think if Apple did contact one of those music services, would they promote them with ads? I don’t think so. People like Scott with his post up there, you should think a little economical and not just in ‘I hate the world’ style.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.