Spotify Fights Back on Licensing Body’s Bundling Accusations

Spotify SA asked a federal judge to nix a federal lawsuit accusing it of improperly bundling audiobooks into its subscription music service to reduce the royalty payments it owes to songwriters and music publishers.

The streaming giant argued its Audiobooks Access subscription is “quite obviously” a distinct product and service from its music streaming product, making the Premium plan that includes both a bundle of two separate services, in its the motion to dismiss filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

“At the heart of this dispute is an easily answered question: Is ...