You have to pay more for Spotify just so Apple can take their cut.
Apple disallows Spotify access to full Watch APIs and Siri APIs they themselves leverage for Apple Music.
Apple also occasionally bullies Spotify by keeping app review in limbo.
Additionally, Spotify eats the 30% Apple tax, and I would imagine the costs for music licensing rights are fairly inelastic.
Apple is not playing fair. They don’t even follow their own App Store rules.
They don't because they disabled it years ago. Also it's not really Apple's problem that Spotify paying for distribution makes their business worse off. They should just eat the cost just like they do when all those wireless carriers that bundle Spotify take their cut.
Seen no evidence that Apple is sending effectively system notifications masquerading as Apple Music.
> Push Notifications must not be required for the app to function, and should not be used for advertising, promotions, or direct marketing purposes or to send sensitive personal or confidential information. Abuse of these services may result in revocation of your privileges.
But that's not what I am talking about. It's this alleged situation where Apple is sending Apple Music notifications not from the app but from the OS itself.
Serious question: how do I report apps that violate this guideline?
So far, HomePod is looking like a Version 0 product from Apple. Given that it’s not even sold in many countries yet (compared to iPhone/iPad/Macs), it will be a while until it becomes a little more open. Looks like Apple hasn’t yet completely figured out the market and utility for it.
Spotify doesn’t “eat” the 30% cut. You haven’t been able to sign up for Spotify through the App Store in years.
It's a cost for the distribution channel i.e. a cost for Spotify to easily access the hundreds of millions of iPhone users with just a few clicks on an app submission form.