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Good day! As we speak, I take a look at what Europe’s regulatory strikes towards Apple imply for Spotify, and podcasting extra broadly. Plus, a lightning spherical that includes every kind of audio tales from the purely enterprise (a money inflow at iHeart) to the delightfully legal (a lacking radio tower).
As a heads-up, I cannot be publishing Sizzling Pod subsequent week on account of Sizzling Pod Summit and On Air Fest. Insiders, I’ll be again on Friday. As for the remainder of you, I’ll see you in March.
If this seems to be true, it might be an enormous win for Spotify in its perpetual battle with Apple. In 2019, Spotify filed a grievance towards Apple with the European Fee, the EU physique that offers with antitrust points, claiming that it was clamping down on rival music companies with its App Retailer charges. The Financial Times and Bloomberg each reported that the EU plans to fine Apple €500 million — not a lot as to harm the $2.8 trillion firm in a cloth means, however sufficient to indicate that the Fee is not tolerating its enterprise practices.
The Monetary Instances additionally says Apple may very well be banned from placing restrictions on music companies that may cease it from letting customers change to cheaper fee choices. The main points are imprecise for now, however such a ruling may probably carve out extra space for Spotify to function on iOS throughout the European Union — even because the EU’s new authorized regime begins to open issues up in different respects.
These stories come at a key time. Apple is being regulated as one among six “gatekeeper” tech corporations that must adjust to the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Below the DMA, Apple will probably be required to open up its tightly managed app ecosystem with a view to foster competitors from smaller builders. Spotify, particularly, is planning for a future wherein Apple can not slap a 30 p.c price on all digital transactions, which may have a huge upside for Spotify’s subscription and audiobook companies.
Apple introduced changes final month with a view to be compliant with the DMA, together with assist for various browser engines and app shops, in addition to another regime that features lowered App Retailer charges and extra flexibility for builders. However Apple has been accused by builders and fellow gatekeepers of constructing it onerous for third events to make use of these new options (notably due to a brand new €0.50 price per app set up after the millionth set up). Corporations nonetheless must pay Apple — probably fairly a bit — to skirt that 30 p.c tariff and use their very own funds programs. Apple even ended support for progressive web apps on iPhones, in what’s being considered as a foul religion transfer.
If Apple’s modifications are dominated to not be sufficient, the EU can advantageous the corporate as much as 10 p.c of its annual turnover. Contemplating it made $383 billion final 12 months, a advantageous like that may make $540 million seem like a slap on the wrist.
The result of this regulatory battle may have a huge impact on the podcast house. If smaller audio corporations’ apps are higher capable of entice iPhone customers, we may see actual innovation within the house. Plus, with out the App Retailer tax, podcasters and podcast platforms may have extra methods to become profitable past advertisements (which, as now we have seen, usually are not sufficient to assist the ambitions of the business). Apple is definitely not transferring towards that future quietly, however the EU’s choice to advantageous them a minimum of exhibits that regulators there are severe about holding the corporate accountable.