Turkey’s competition authority said Thursday it has opened an investigation into Spotify to assess possible discriminatory practices and predatory pricing in the country’s online music streaming market.
The probe will focus on two main allegations, according to a statement from the Competition Board. The first is whether Spotify discriminates among rights holders in how songs are included in playlists, ranked or promoted through its recommendation algorithms. The second is whether the company has set subscription prices in Turkey at levels low enough to unfairly restrict competitors or rights holders from operating effectively in the market.
The authority noted that music streaming platforms have rapidly reshaped consumer habits in recent years, becoming central to daily life as listeners access songs instantly through paid subscriptions or advertisements. These shifts, it said, have also transformed the competitive dynamics of the music industry.
The launch of an investigation by the board does not mean Spotify has been found in violation of the competition law or that penalties are inevitable.
Spotify, which operates in Turkey through several corporate entities, was the largest music streaming provider under review in this case, the statement said.
Spotify, launched in Turkey in 2013, paid more than 2 billion Turkish lira (approximately $48.2 million) to the local music industry in 2024 and plays a key role in expanding Turkish artists’ reach globally, according to a statement from the company in the wake of a similar investigation in July.