Kathy Greenler Sexton

Time spent and repeated use can look like success without producing it. This week’s news shows why subscription leaders need to understand what engagement actually delivers. Signal of the Week: Engagement is not disappearing. It’s losing its status as a self-explanatory measure of success. For years, companies have treated active users and frequent visits as reassuring signs. If people keep showing up, the thinking goes, the business must be healthy. This week offered a useful reality check.

Maryland’s new automatic renewal law took effect June 1, 2026, creating a new compliance checkpoint for consumer-facing subscription businesses with Maryland exposure. The law, enacted through SB49 and HB107 as Chapters 204 and 205, applies to automatic renewal offers made to consumers. Under the statute, an automatic renewal includes a contract, plan or agreement between a consumer and a seller in which a paid subscription or purchasing agreement automatically renews for a subsequent term.

Apple announced new App Store capabilities on June 8, 2026, including updates that could affect how app-based subscription businesses package, sell, and retain subscribers. The new capabilities include App Store Bundles, subscription Suites, Retention Messaging, group purchases, volume purchasing and streamlined in-app purchase submissions. Apple said the updates are tied to Apple In-App Purchase, StoreKit 2 and App Store Connect.