Apple Music Chief Criticizes Free Music Tiers Offered by Competing Streaming Services

Oliver Schusser, the head honcho at Apple Music, recently shared his thoughts on free music tiers offered by other streaming services, calling it “crazy” and suggesting that it devalues music as an art form. In a conversation with David Israelite, CEO of the National Music Publishers Association, during the group’s annual meeting, Schusser emphasized Apple Music’s commitment to treating music as art and not giving it away for free.

Schusser drew a parallel between Apple’s approach to music streaming and its parent company’s strategy for Apple TV+. Using the example of the hit show “Severance,” he explained that Apple’s TV shows are not available for free and require a subscription. Schusser questioned why music, like albums from artists such as Gracie Abrams and Kacey Musgraves, should be offered for free when other forms of media are not.

These remarks come at a time of ongoing tension between the music industry and streaming platforms, with songwriters often receiving minimal compensation for their work. Spotify’s introduction of bundled subscriptions, followed by Amazon Music, has further exacerbated the situation. According to Israelite, these bundling efforts have led to a significant decrease in music revenue for the industry.

At the meeting, Danielle Aguirre, NMPA’s executive VP and general counsel, highlighted the financial impact of these bundling initiatives, citing a loss of over $230 million due to Spotify’s bundles and a 40 percent decrease in revenue from Amazon Music since its introduction. Despite the challenges, music publishing revenue in the U.S. saw a 17 percent increase last year, reaching over $7 billion.

As Schusser and industry leaders continue to advocate for fair compensation for artists and songwriters, the debate over free music tiers and bundled subscriptions will likely remain at the forefront of discussions in the music streaming landscape.