
Europe To Probe Apple's Music Streaming Service
The European Commission (EC) is invertigating Apple 's dealings with record labels and digital music companies to find if they are trying to unfairly limit rivals, the Financial Times reported citing people familiar with the matter.
The commission has sought details from several music labels and digital streaming companies on their agreements with Apple, as the iPhone maker gears up to launch its own music streaming service this summer, the report said.
The Commission is concerned that Apple would use it size, influence and relationships to get music labels to abandon rivals like Spotify, which rely on licensing with music companies for their catalogue, the FT said.
Apple bought Beats Music for $3 billion last year, as the market moves away from digital downloads to a new generation of subscription and streaming services.