ISTANBUL, July 6, 2025
Spotify Under Scrutiny in Turkey
The streaming giant faces probes over competition and content.
- Turkey’s Competition Authority is investigating Spotify for potential anti-competitive behavior.
- The investigation focuses on licensing terms, operational strategies, and alleged favoritism toward specific artists.
- Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism may pursue legal action over content deemed offensive.
- Spotify asserts it complies with all legal standards in its operating jurisdictions.
Is Spotify in trouble in Turkey? Yes, facing a formal investigation by Turkey’s Competition Authority, Spotify’s antitrust woes center on potential anti-competitive practices within the country’s digital music industry.
Antitrust Concerns Arise
The Turkish regulator’s probe will scrutinize whether Spotify’s licensing terms and operational strategies unfairly disadvantage competing platforms. This includes examining the distribution of royalties within the music ecosystem.
The inquiry will also delve into allegations that Spotify might be favoring specific artists or content creators. The concern is that some are receiving increased visibility on the platform.
Fair Access Questioned
According to a statement from the authority, the investigation seeks to determine whether these practices violate Turkish competition law. The core issue is whether Spotify is restricting equal access to market opportunities, thereby weakening competitors’ ability to operate effectively.
Spotify has responded, asserting that it fully complies with all relevant legal standards in the jurisdictions where it operates. The company will likely cooperate with the investigation.
Contentious Content
Separately, Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has indicated it may pursue legal action against Spotify. The issue? Content the ministry considers offensive to the country’s moral and cultural values.
Deputy Minister Batuhan Mumcu stated that despite repeated warnings, Spotify has not removed certain material. This material is regarded as disrespectful to religious figures and government officials.
Mumcu added that some content on the platform has been identified as harmful to national unity and societal norms.
Official Statement
“I want to state that I will personally follow the process and that every necessary step will be taken to ensure that no violation goes unpunished,” Mumcu said in a written statement.
