Apple has blocked Spotify’s latest update in the European Union, which aims to include subscription pricing tiers and payment options without using in-app purchases. Spotify claims that Apple did not acknowledge or respond to its submission, which is a violation of Apple’s statement that it addresses reviews of app submissions within 24 hours.

This rejection by Apple is due to Spotify’s refusal to request eligibility and pay Apple a fee for purchases made from external links. However, the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires Apple to allow music streaming apps to include external purchase links, but Apple’s updated rules still involve taking a commission from those purchases. The ruling also allows Spotify to distribute the Spotify app to EU users outside of the App Store, but it will be required to pay Apple’s core fee for each user.

Spotify, along with other companies like Epic Games, criticized Apple’s compliance with the DMA, calling it extortion and a farce.

The feud between Apple and Spotify is not new, with tensions starting with Spotify’s 2019 antitrust complaint over Apple’s 30% “Apple Tax.” The dispute escalated in 2024 when the European Commission fined Apple $2 billion for preventing Swedish streaming service Spotify from advertising cheaper subscription deals outside of the iOS platform. The ruling followed a four-year investigation that found Apple “abused its dominant market position” by preventing developers from informing customers about alternative services.

In response to the verdict, Apple introduced the eligibility of music streaming services For music streaming apps in the European Economic Area (EEA), allowing developers to include a link on their website for alternative purchase options. However, Apple still requires developers to use its in-app purchase system and pay a fee for purchases made from external links.