Billion Dollar Breakup: Apple and Spotify Take Their Beef to Brussels

The music streaming industry is getting fascinating! Apple and Spotify are really going at it this year.

The EU’s claim that Apple has been unjustly targeting Spotify is the major story. Every time someone joined up for Spotify via the App Store, they had to pay Apple a substantial amount of money. And Apple wouldn’t let Spotify tell people about cheaper subscriptions on their website.

Because of this, people in Europe have been paying more than they should to listen to music on their phones. The EU fined Apple almost 2 billion dollars because of it!

That’s a lot of money. But the tides are turning against the smartphone savior. In a fiery press statement, Apple vowed to appeal, claiming there’s “no evidence” consumers were actually harmed. Shots were also fired at chief rival Spotify, with Apple spinning them as the “biggest beneficiary” of the whole ordeal.

Insiders say it’s no surprise Spotify is loving every minute of Apple’s public flogging. Apparently, Spotify went straight to EU regulators with a complaint last year, crying foul over Apple’s so-called anti-competitive tactics. Now, with Apple’s multi-billion euro wrist slap, Spotify is celebrating a major win in taking down the tech tyrant.

As the dust settles from this epic EU smackdown, one thing is clear, Apple and Spotify’s acrimonious breakup is far from over. With billions at stake, don’t be surprised if this bitter streaming split ends up in court. Stay tuned for more explosive developments in the biggest tech feud this side of the Atlantic.