As a result of allegations that Spotify bundled its music streaming and audiobook services into a more expensive subscription without obtaining user consent, two U.S. senators have requested that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate the company.

Additionally, the company is accused of reducing royalty payments to creators.

U.S. senators Marsha Blackburn and Ben Ray Luján submitted a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Friday, June 20, alleging that Spotify improperly converted standard premium subscriptions into bundled subscriptions at a higher cost without informing consumers.

They also emphasized that the current U.S. regulations allow digital music providers to pay a reduced music royalty rate if the subscription is bundled with other legitimate offerings.

“Spotify’s intention appears to be explicit: to reduce the statutory royalties it pays to music publishers and songwriters.”

“This action has not only harmed our creative community, but it has also harmed consumers,” the letter states.

Spotify was accused of underpaying composers and publishers in a lawsuit filed by the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) last year. However, the lawsuit was dismissed in January.

Spotify’s Premium tiers were restructured in March 2024 to include 15 hours of audiobooks, resulting in a price increase of $12 for individuals and $20 for families. Users are required to explicitly withdraw from the plan.

Danielle Aguirre, executive vice president of the National Music Publishers’ Association, has reported that this transition has resulted in a $230 million loss for publishers in the first year.

In a statement provided to Variety, a spokesperson for Spotify stated that users were informed of the price increase one month in advance and that the platform provides “multiple plans and easy cancellations.”