Several musicians are taking down their music from the popular streaming platform, Spotify, yet again. From King Gizzard to Godspeed You! Black Emperor, these artists have joined the long list of groups that are unsubscribing from this streaming service. Over the last two months, singers from across the world have joined the movement after they chose not to release new albums on Spotify.
Artists like American outfits Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu, Australian rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Netherlands-based label Kalahari Cult Music and Australian contemporary musician and songwriter David Bridie are all headlining this move.
But why are they leaving? Here’s how Spotify CEO Daniel Ek may have motivated the move.
Spotify’s $600 million investment in AI
Spotify CEO Daniel EK invested 600 million euros in AI-weapon technology with a German drone company. Led by Ek’s Prima Materia, the money has gone to Helsing, a defence firm worth $12 billion, as per a Financial Times (FT) report. Inviting backlash, Ek made was aware that this move would spark tensions. However, he was “100 per cent convinced that this is the right thing for Europe.” This comes during a massive geopolitical tensions that have engulfed the world, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, leading to mass casualties.
While funding weapon supply might not be the only thing Spotify has been accused of, the streaming platform has also been at the centre of several issues in the music market. From streaming monopoly to promoting AI-generated music, paired with increasingly low royalties artist earn on their music, has put Spotify in the middle of it all.
How have artists reacted?
Australian artist David Birdie did not shy away from reacting to Ek’s investments. As per the FT report, he doesn’t “want my songs – some written with survivors of conflict – to enrich people who fund weapons.” Triggering a Spotify ban, California-based Xiu Xiu called the streaming platform a “garbage hole Armageddon portal”.
Members of Deerhoof rolled out a statement against Spotify that said, “…We don’t want our music killing people. We don’t want our success being tied to AI battle tech”. Condemning Ek’s investments, Kalaharo Oyster Cult Label spoke up and said that they did not want their music “contributing to or benefiting a platform led by someone backing tools of war, surveillance, and violence.”
This, however, is not the first time artists have backed out of being represented on Spotify. In 2022, Grammy awardee Neil Young removed his music from the platform after he accused Joe Rogan of spreading misinformation around COVID-19. Known for his right-wing reports, Rogan has often had guests who questioned vaccination and validated the cause of anti-vaxxers.
