Is Apple undermining Spotify's U.S. launch?

Filed under: Audio

I don't pay too much attention to Apple's App Store antics. I don't know the ins and outs of why they choose to approve App A and not App B. However, I do know that I'm a little surprised to see apps like Mog, Slacker, Rhapsody, and Spotify making their way onto the App Store.

Why? Because it just seems odd that they'd want to allow those apps (which allow users to store tracks offline) to wrestle away precious dollars that they'd no doubt prefer to see spent on iTunes downloads.

I'm further confused by Greg Sandoval's report on CNet that Apple is poisoning the well in the U.S., doing its best to convince record labels that Spotify's arrival on American soil would further undermine download sales. Spotify, of course, has already missed two launch deadlines in the U.S., and things aren't looking good for the latest date of December 31st.

With Apple voicing its concern to labels -- and those same labels already disenchanted with similar services -- it could be a very steep uphill climb for Spotify.

That raises the question: If Apple is really helping to steer the record industry away from apps like Spotify, how much longer will we see them on the App Store? Until Apple releases their own streaming service?

Is Apple undermining Spotify's U.S. launch? originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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