The Competition Board has initiated a formal investigation into Spotify, which operates in the online music streaming sector, following a preliminary inquiry into the company’s market practices. The digital transformation of the music industry in recent years has made online streaming platforms central to the sector, offering users on-demand access to music through subscriptions or advertising. These platforms have reshaped listening habits and have become a significant factor in the competitive dynamics of the industry.
The inquiry focused on the economic unity comprising Spotify Dijital Yayıncılık Hizmetleri AŞ, Spotify Yönetim Destek Hizmetleri AŞ, Spotify AB, and Spotify Technology S.A. In its meeting on 28 August 2025, the Competition Board concluded that the information and documents obtained during the preliminary inquiry were sufficient to proceed with a formal investigation, recorded under decision number 25-32/758-M. The investigation aims to determine whether Spotify may have discriminated between rightsholders on the platform with respect to playlist inclusion, ranking, visibility, and recommendation algorithms, and whether it may have engaged in practices such as predatory pricing or leveraging subscription fees in Turkey in ways that could disadvantage competitors or affect the royalties earned by rightsholders.
The Competition Board emphasized that the opening of an investigation does not imply that Spotify has violated the Act no 4054 or that any penalties will be imposed. Public announcements of such decisions are made solely to inform stakeholders and the public about ongoing investigations.
