In major u-turn, Apple allows Spotify to display pricing and direct users to its website

In a major u-turn, Apple is now allowing Spotify to display pricing in the app – including promotional offers – and to direct users to its website to sign up.

The move comes three months after the iPhone maker rejected a a Spotify app update which did just that, and four months after the EU fined the company $2B for anticompetitive practices in its treatment of its streaming music competitor …

A quick recap

Spotify has for many years accused Apple of anticompetitive practices in the music streaming business.

The company said that Apple Music has an unfair advantage over Spotify because iPhone owners can start a subscription within the app, while if Spotify wanted to allow the same thing it would have to pay Apple a 30% cut. Apple didn’t even allow Spotify to display subscription pricing within the app unless it implemented in-app purchases.

Spotify made a formal antitrust complaint to the EU back in 2019, and in March of this year the long-running EU investigation found Apple guilty and fined the company $2B.

Apple allows Spotify to display pricing

Earlier this year, Spotify tested the waters by issuing an update to its app which showed subscription prices. Apple rejected the update.

However, Spotify says Apple has now changed its mind and allowed the update.

We will finally be able to offer something as obvious as it is overdue: iPhone consumers in the EU will now see pricing information for Spotify in the app and the fact that they can go to our website to purchase items directly.

But the battle isn’t over

Spotify says that Apple is, however, still not allowing it to actually link to the website within the app.

Unfortunately, Spotify and all music streaming services in the EU are still not able to freely give consumers a simple opportunity to click a link to purchase in app because of the illegal and predatory taxes Apple continues to demand, despite the Commission’s ruling.

Spotify is calling on the EU to instruct Apple to allow direct links.

Update: It’s unclear what the issue is here, as the music entitlement does appear to allow links.

In addition to using Apple’s convenient, safe, and secure In-App Purchase system, music streaming apps on the App Store in the European Economic Area (EEA) can use the Music Streaming Services Entitlement (EEA) to include a link to the developer’s website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital goods or services, invite users to provide their email address with the express purpose of sending them links, or simply provide information about purchases available on the developer’s website, without a link. To use the entitlement, you’ll need to submit a request, enable the entitlement in Xcode, and use required StoreKit APIs. Apple will review your app to ensure it follows the terms and conditions of the entitlement, as well as the App Review Guidelines and Apple Developer Program License Agreement.

We’ve reached out to Spotify for comment, and will update with any response.