According to a report in the Financial Times, Universal is using license negotiations with music streamer Spotify in an attempt to get the latter to reduce the amount of free music that it streams to subscribers each month. The global entertainment conglomerate, which owns the largest music company in the world, is blaming free ad-based music streaming for the decline in sales of recorded music from online stores like iTunes.
Spotify is also facing competition from Apple, whose new streaming music service is expected to launch later this year with the release of iOS 8.4. Apple is seeking to renegotiate lower fees with the music providers, including Universal Music Group, in an attempt to undercut Spotify’s $10 a month paid service.
