Apple EU to review Apple's reported $400m purchase of music app Shazam European Commission to investigate deal following requests from Austria, France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden The company’s planned takeover of Shazam would be its largest since the acquisition of Beats for $3bn in 2014. Photograph: Thomas White/ReutersApple’s purchase of music recognition service Shazam is to be reviewed by the European Commission following requests from seven countries fearing the deal may “adversely affect competition”. The EU said on Tuesday that it launched the inquiry into the reported $400m deal for London-based Shazam following requests from Austria, France, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden. It was founded in 1999 in the early age of online music, and now accounts for about 1m referrals to Apple Music and Spotify. Shazam only recently announced it had become profitable, thanks to advertising and click-through to other sites such as Spotify and Apple Music.

Source: The Guardian February 07, 2018 11:03 UTC