Apple to Incentivize Use of Spatial Audio with Higher Royalties

Artists and labels could see increased payouts from next year, even if listeners do not play the Atmos version of a song.

Apple Inc. plans to incentivize artists and record labels to use its spatial audio technology by offering higher royalty payouts.
Starting next year, Apple will assign extra significance to the streams of songs mixed with Dolby Atmos technology, potentially leading to increased royalty payments for those artists who adopt the technology.
Artists can benefit from this policy even if listeners do not play the Atmos version of a song, as long as the song is available in that format.
The move is seen as a way to boost the adoption of spatial audio technology and potentially increase sales of Apple's hardware, such as AirPods and the HomePod, which support Atmos playback.
Apple's biggest music stream rival, Spotify, does not currently offer this format.