Spotify might exit Turkey amid authorities probe over ‘provocative’ playlists (report)
Spotify might pull its companies from Turkey amid escalating tensions with authorities officers over platform content material and alleged anticompetitive practices.
That’s in line with The Instances (UK), which reported on Friday (July 11), citing sources on the streaming platform, that the corporate is contemplating all choices, together with “pausing its operations available in the market or exiting Turkey altogether”.
The report arrived simply days after Turkey’s competitors bureau launched a probe into whether or not the streaming large engaged in anti-competitive practices.
Turkey’s competitors authority introduced the probe on July 4, saying it will look at whether or not Spotify had violated Turkish regulation “by participating in practices that complicate the operations of its rivals within the on-line music streaming companies market and/or have an effect on the distribution of the royalties paid to varied events inside the framework of its licensing relationships.”
It additionally stated Spotify could also be “discriminating between artists and content material creators on the platform in numerous methods, together with their visibility on the platform”.
Batuhan Mumcu, Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Tradition and Tourism, slammed the streaming platform on X the identical day, accusing it of internet hosting “content material that targets our spiritual and nationwide values and insults the beliefs of our society.”
Mumcu particularly highlighted “insidious and provocative, immoral” playlist titles referencing Emine Erdoğan, the president’s spouse, together with “Emine Ergodan hotgirl playlist” and “Songs Emine Erdogan listened to when her golden faucet broke” — an obvious reference to claims about luxurious fixtures within the presidential palace. Different controversial playlists embody “Songs Prophet Muhammad listened to within the cave.”
Mumcu has additionally accused Spotify final month of not supporting native music, notably Turkish people and Arabesque genres. On X, he stated: “Regardless of worldwide digital platforms like Spotify having a big consumer base within the Turkish market, they’ve neither established a neighborhood illustration nor taken duty for supporting native music tradition.
He added: “Apart from the failure to fulfill tax obligations, prioritizing sensation over high quality in content material algorithms—selling content material that encourages slang, violence, and the use of prohibited substances in playlists—is an unacceptable alternative.
In response to the probe, a Spotify spokesperson informed MBW final week: “We’re cooperating with the investigation, are actively in search of to know it, and can work towards a swift, constructive decision with the Turkish Competitors Authority. We adjust to all relevant legal guidelines in all our operations, however we’re unable to remark additional as we lack particulars on the inspection’s scope or focus.”
Spotify launched in Turkey in 2013, and in line with the corporate’s latest Loud & Clear report, the platform highlighted the quickly growing reputation of native artists.
The share of streams by native artists in Turkey rose from 11% in 2013 to 65% in 2025, whereas the variety of Turkish artists in Spotify’s yearly prime 100 grew from 11 in 2013 to 93 in 2024, Spotify stated.
In 2021, Turkey’s media watchdog warned Spotify to “regulate its content material” according to Turkish legal guidelines or threat being faraway from the market.
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