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So, again, why isn't Spotify a gatekeeper at this point? This ruling shows that the quantitative thresholds are pure fiction (which was the old justification f

So, again, why isn't Spotify a gatekeeper at this point? This ruling shows that the quantitative thresholds are pure fiction (which was the old justification for leaving them out). Spotify has clearly an entrenched and durable position (the government of England formally declared them a monopoly)... and they are using their market power to strong-arm others: Look at all the Spotify-only or Spotify-first streaming playback devices (Teslas, for starters). They pay massively lower rates to artists than other streamers (like Apple Music) for another example. As for consumer harm, I seem to hear nothing but complaints from friends about Spotify's latest AI-generated playlists and poor user interface... those again speak to entrenched and durable market power. It really makes me question whether Europe has such low rates of corruption as everyone says.

shuckles 2y ago
Think about all the formerly-free-now-paywalled talk show podcasts users are missing out on because Spotify can't offer in app subscriptions without paying their primary technology provider a fee for developing all the hardware and software users use to consume their service.
jamesbelchamber 2y ago
> the government of England formally declared them a monopoly Do you have a source for this? So far as I know this isn't true, and some (admittedly quick) searching doesn't reveal anything.
extraduder_ire 2y ago
Spotify is a music streaming service, not a digital app marketplace. If it is running afoul of an EU law, I don't think it would be the DMA. I think you're describing a different kind of antitrust.
talldayo 2y ago
Because Spotify is not abusing their position as a platform holder to create unfair terms for their competitors. > As for consumer harm, I seem to hear nothing but complaints from friends about Spotify's latest AI-generated playlists and poor user interface... That's not market harm, that's a bad product. If you're particularly upset from Spotify's behavior, there are no shortage of competing alternative services you can entirely replace it with.

shuckles 2y ago

Think about all the formerly-free-now-paywalled talk show podcasts users are missing out on because Spotify can't offer in app subscriptions without paying their primary technology provider a fee for developing all the hardware and software users use to consume their service.

jamesbelchamber 2y ago

> the government of England formally declared them a monopoly Do you have a source for this? So far as I know this isn't true, and some (admittedly quick) searching doesn't reveal anything.

extraduder_ire 2y ago

Spotify is a music streaming service, not a digital app marketplace. If it is running afoul of an EU law, I don't think it would be the DMA. I think you're describing a different kind of antitrust.

talldayo 2y ago

Because Spotify is not abusing their position as a platform holder to create unfair terms for their competitors. > As for consumer harm, I seem to hear nothing but complaints from friends about Spotify's latest AI-generated playlists and poor user interface... That's not market harm, that's a bad product. If you're particularly upset from Spotify's behavior, there are no shortage of competing alternative services you can entirely replace it with.