# Spotify’s potential bill if The MLC wins its ‘bundling’ lawsuit outright rises to $619M

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/spotifys-potential-bill-if-the-mlc-wins-its-bundling-lawsuit-outright-rises-to-619m/
- Published: 2026-10-27T18:19:21+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-27T21:56:47+00:00
- Original publisher: Music Business Worldwide
- Original article: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotifys-potential-bill-if-the-mlc-wins-its-bundling-lawsuit-outright-rises-to-619m/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Spotify’s worst-case estimate rose to €538 million.
- The amount covers the period since March 2024.
- The MLC case is moving towards summary judgment.

## Summary

Spotify’s estimated liability in its royalty dispute with the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) has risen to €538 million ($619 million), up €65 million in the latest quarter. The sum matters because it represents potential unpaid royalties if The MLC ultimately succeeds in arguing that Spotify’s Premium service should not be treated as a bundle that includes audiobook access.

The estimate covers March 2024 to September 2026 and excludes penalties and interest, which Spotify says it cannot reasonably calculate; direct publisher deals could partly offset any liability. A court has ruled that Premium is a bundle and denied The MLC an immediate appeal of that ruling, though the collective’s amended case challenges how Spotify valued bundle components and reported royalties. The case is moving towards summary judgment, with pre-motion letters due by 11 December.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.