Apple cuts commission on app and in-app sales through affiliate links

Apple has announced that it is reducing the commissions the company pays to members of the iTunes Affiliate Program for app and in-app sales through affiliate links. The percentage goes from 7 to 2.5 percent.

Apple announced the news in its most recent affiliate member newsletter, 9to5Mac reports. The reduction will take effect worldwide from 1 May. For the promotion of other content such as music, films and books, the percentage of 7 percent will still apply. The commissions will remain in effect for Apple Music subscriptions.

It is not clear why Apple is making this reduction. With this move, Apple equalizes the percentage for the commissions for all regions. Until now, the rate of 2.5 percent only applied to Japan, but that will now become the standard for everyone.

The iTunes Affiliate Program allows websites that are members of this program to promote and link to apps from the App Store. If an app from the Apple Store is purchased or an in-app sale is made through these links, the website will receive a percentage of the proceeds.

Most members of this program are websites that sell Apple products and developers who develop apps. App developers derive a portion of their total revenue, in addition to app sales revenue, from these affiliate links to the iTunes Affiliate Program.