Just when all the hype about the release of Apple Watch was starting to fade away, Apple made headlines again. This time, it’s due to reports that the company is pushing record labels to force streaming services like Spotify to abandon their free tiers. The same source also indicates that Apple proposed to pay YouTube’s music licensing fee to Universal Music Group, if the label removed its songs from YouTube. This set of aggressive tactics, which could put rival music services at a disadvantage, has triggered preliminary investigations from the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and even the European Union’s Competition Commission.
Apple, Spotify, and the Battle over Freemium
What’s at stake for the future of the music industry.
May 13, 2015
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Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Sharpening Your Business Acumen. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Take your career to the next level by learning business and finance basics, and developing an enterprise mindset.