Apple Removes ‘Parasitic’ Streaming App ‘Musi’ Following Persistent Complaints

Musi, a massively popular free music app with millions of users, has been removed from the App Store. Apple took action following extensive complaints from music industry groups, but whether these complaints directly triggered the app's removal is unclear. Information received by TorrentFreak further reveals that YouTube weighed in as well.

 App stores are littered with apps that promise free access to music, but only a few live up to expectations. Musi is one of them.

The music app first made headlines in 2016 when its founders, who were teenagers at the time, presented their brainchild in an episode of the Canadian edition of Dragons’ Den.

The software itself works relatively simply. Musi can stream music, sourced from YouTube, and allows users to create and share playlists. It essentially uses YouTube as a music library, without showing the video.

Apple Removes Musi

While the app’s millions of users seem satisfied with Musi, music industry groups are not happy at all. They argue that Musi is a ‘parasitic’ app that doesn’t compensate creators or rightsholders. The app was previously removed from Google Play and, as we reported a few weeks ago, IFPI and other music insiders were pressing Apple to remove it too.

Those efforts paid off yesterday when Musi was wiped from the App Store. Apple users who previously installed the software can continue to use it, but it’s no longer possible to install the app through the official store.

There’s no official explanation from Apple about the reason for the takedown. Our inquiries to Apple weren’t immediately returned, and the sender of the takedown request is unknown. However, information seen by TorrentFreak sheds more light the background leading up to it.

Music Industry Pressure

The takedown didn’t arrive out of the blue. Music industry group IFPI reported the Musi app to the App Store last summer. This triggered a legal back and forth, which also involved Musi’s lawyer, who argued that the app was merely providing access to publicly available music, stressing that the app doesn’t store any content on its servers.

It’s not clear whether Apple took any position in the dispute. We do know that the company, which typically has rigorous copyright standards, didn’t remove Musi from the app store at the time.

IFPI, however, was determined to have the app taken down. The group escalated the matter and called on other stakeholders to complain to Apple. More complaints might help to convince Apple.

YouTube

In recent months, Apple indeed received more complaints, including a recent takedown request from the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA). Documentation seen by TorrentFreak further suggests that YouTube also got involved.

YouTube’s arguments in favor of takedown are unknown but, according to some, Musi circumvents YouTube’s ‘rolling cipher’ measures, which violates the DMCA. In addition, the app goes against the company’s terms of service.

The involvement of YouTube would be significant. Thus far, the video platform hasn’t taken any public action against “rolling cipher” issues. It’s often music companies who use this argument, against stream ripping platforms, for example.

Over the past year, music industry groups and various companies, who are a major revenue source for YouTube, repeatedly urged the company to get involved. Judging by the comments we’ve seen, those efforts paid off.

It’s Not Over Yet

This is one of the most significant App Store takedowns ever. With over 100 million downloads, Musi is one of the most popular apps around.

At the time of writing, the official Musi website still links to the iOS download, which is no longer available. In replies on social media, Musi says that it’s working on a potential comeback.

“The app is currently unavailable while we address some comments relating to the App Store. We don’t have an estimated time as to when it’ll be back but rest assured this has our top attention!,” Musi notes.

This is not the first time that Musi has been removed from the App Store. There’s still a possibility that, with some changes, it will return. Similarly, sideloading remains an option, and the music app may choose to focus on that going forward.

Who was behind this week’s takedown is unknown, but music industry insiders aren’t completely satisfied yet. There are talks about a potential lawsuit, which would likely take place in Canada, but that matter still being discussed. The hesitation likely stems from the fact that a lawsuit could potentially be lost, which would make matters worse, much worse.

If Musi doesn’t return to the App Store, it will be a major disappointment to millions of users. At the same time, it will be a massive blow to the app’s creators, who have turned it into a multi-million dollar business in recent years.

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