Apple is reducing the commission it pays on app sales for affiliates in the The iTunes Affiliate Program, in a sign that it is not making as much money from the practice as it hoped. Under the new scheme, Apple will pay just 2.5% to affilates involved in a sale of apps and in-app purchases, […]
Apple is reducing the commission it pays on app sales for affiliates in the The iTunes Affiliate Program, in a sign that it is not making as much money from the practice as it hoped.
Under the new scheme, Apple will pay just 2.5% to affilates involved in a sale of apps and in-app purchases, down from 7% previously.
However, Apple said, “all other content types (music, movies, books, and TV) will remain at the current 7% commission rate in all markets.”
The Affiliate Program is used heavily by websites that cover media sold by Apple and app developers.
The announcement, which was made in the May Affiliate News email that Apple sends to participants in the program says:
Starting on May 1st 2017, commissions for all app and in-app content will be reduced from 7% to 2.5% globally. All other content types (music, movies, books, and TV) will remain at the current 7% commission rate in all markets. We will also continue to pay affiliate commissions on Apple Music memberships so there are many ways to earn commissions with the program.
Many developers also use affiliate links in their apps and on their websites to supplement their app income.
This change will put additional financial pressure on both groups, which is why it’s especially unfortunate that the changes are being made on just one week’s notice.
