Spotify news

Spotify age-checks could result in accounts being deleted, but only if you’re twelve

public

Spotify • 3 min read

Spotify age-checks could result in accounts being deleted, but only if you’re twelve

Last week age-check requirements contained in the UK’s Online Safety Act went into force, meaning platforms must check a user’s age before they access content that is deemed harmful to children. That includes Spotify, where new age-check rules led to fears some users might see their accounts deleted…

Chris Cooke • 31 Jul 2025

Increasing number of artists join Spotify boycott over CEO’s AI weapon investments

public

Spotify • 3 min read

Increasing number of artists join Spotify boycott over CEO’s AI weapon investments

Last month it emerged that Spotify boss Daniel Ek had put more money into - and was now Chair of - AI defence tech company Helsing. That has prompted criticism from a number of artists, with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard now joining Deerhoof in pulling their music from Spotify in protest…

Chris Cooke • 28 Jul 2025

UK regulator sets roadmap for reviewing app store payment rules

public

Apple • 3 min read

UK regulator sets roadmap for reviewing app store payment rules

Last year the UK’s competition regulator closed an investigation into the Apple App Store rules that Spotify hates, but only so it could figure out how to use new powers it had been granted by Parliament. Now it’s done that, it’s proposed a roadmap for reviewing the hated rules, starting this autumn…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jul 2025

“Content is king” say analysts - so why is Spotify worth more than the entire music rights industry?

public

Spotify • 3 min read

“Content is king” say analysts - so why is Spotify worth more than the entire music rights industry?

Lucian Grainge might be rubbing his hands with glee after a new report by investment bankers TD Cowen said Spotify is overvalued and Universal is undervalued. Plus the financial wizards reckon the majors might have the upper hand in future streaming negotiations now Spotify has hit profitability…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jul 2025

Turkish competition regulator to investigate Spotify as culture minister rails about playlists that disrespect the president’s wife

public

Spotify • 3 min read

Turkish competition regulator to investigate Spotify as culture minister rails about playlists that disrespect the president’s wife

Spotify has said it is “cooperating” with the competition regulator in Turkey which has announced it is investigating whether any of the digital service’s practices breach competition law. That investigation comes as the country’s culture minister rails against Spotify’s content moderation policies…

Chris Cooke • 08 Jul 2025

“Regulating Spotify like radio is like regulating Uber like a horse and buggy” streaming giant tells Canadian regulators

public

Spotify • 3 min read

“Regulating Spotify like radio is like regulating Uber like a horse and buggy” streaming giant tells Canadian regulators

Canada’s broadcasting regulator the CRTC is still figuring out how to implement the country’s Online Streaming Act, including how it should regulate streaming platforms. At a hearing last week, Spotify said it basically shouldn’t, because radio industry style regulation makes no sense online…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jun 2025

Spotify customers forced into bundled plans says David Israelite as Senators urge FTC to intervene

public

Spotify • 3 min read

Spotify customers forced into bundled plans says David Israelite as Senators urge FTC to intervene

US Senators have asked the FTC to investigate Spotify’s bundling trick, which saw it automatically opt premium subscribers into a music + audiobooks bundle that is more expensive and pays less to writers and publishers. The senators say they have “serious concerns” about this trick being employed…

Chris Cooke • 23 Jun 2025

public

Apple • 2 min read

Forced change to Apple App Store rules has resulted in more Spotify Premium sign-ups

A US court has agreed to fast-track Apple’s appeal of an injunction that forces it to allow developers to link to external payment options from within their apps, but declined to pause the injunction in the short term. Spotify says the injunction has already resulted in an uplift in premium sign-ups…

Chris Cooke • 23 May 2025

Spotify welcomes Epic ruling ending the Apple Tax in the US

public

Apple Music • 3 min read

Spotify welcomes Epic ruling ending the Apple Tax in the US

A US judge has ordered Apple to let developers link to alternative payment options from within their iOS apps without restrictions or fees. The ruling comes in the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games, but also benefits Spotify, which has welcomed the news…

Chris Cooke • 02 May 2025

Everyone’s making loads of money but don’t point the finger at us if you’re not, says Spotify’s updated Loud & Clear

public

Spotify • 6 min read

Everyone’s making loads of money but don’t point the finger at us if you’re not, says Spotify’s updated Loud & Clear

Spotify has updated its Loud & Clear website with lots of stats for 2024, including that it paid the music industry more than $10 billion last year. Spotify also uses Loud & Clear to counter negative narratives about streaming, and the updates in that domain are just as interesting as the stats…

Chris Cooke • 12 Mar 2025

Andrew Tate course on ‘pimping’ and exploiting women remains on Spotify as petition passes 25,000 signatures

public

Spotify • 5 min read

Andrew Tate course on ‘pimping’ and exploiting women remains on Spotify as petition passes 25,000 signatures

Spotify has removed two Andrew Tate courses that were published on its platform instructing men on how to exploit women, but a third, called ‘Andrew Tate PHD (Pimping Hoes Degree)’, remains. A petition calling for all three courses to be removed has now passed 25,000 signatures…

Chris Cooke • 10 Mar 2025

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

public

Live Nation • 5 min read

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

Live Nation’s CEO has told analysts that streaming platforms need ticket pre-sale inventory to make super premium work - but whether or not they get it is another question. The company spent more than $450 million settling Astroworld lawsuits in 2024 - and there’s still no news on the DOJ lawsuit…

Sam Taylor • 21 Feb 2025