Apple is under scrutiny from EU regulators concerning its new streaming music service, The Financial Times reports. Likely in response to a formal complaint, the European Commission has contacted several music labels and digital music companies, sending them questionnaires asking for more information about agreement between Apple and the labels.
The report notes that the commission is concerned that Apple may use its size and influence to force music labels to abandon licenses that allow competitors such as Spotify to provide free, ad-supported services — something that music executives would reportedly be amenable to as well, based on earlier reports. If the Commission were to find wrongdoing as the result of a formal investigation, it could require changes to Apple’s business practices and possibly even impose hefty fees, however information gathering such as this is normally only a very preliminary step and does not necessarily mean a formal antitrust investigation will even be launched.
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