Massive Attack to Remove Music From Spotify

UK trip-hop outfit Massive Attack have signaled their intention to remove their music from Spotify.

Growing movement:

• The band join Godspeed You! Black Emperor, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Xiu Xiu, Deerhoof, Hotline TNT, Young Widows and WU LYF in removing their music from the streaming service.

• At the time of writing Massive Attack have 7.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Military investment:

• As with the other artists, Massive Attack say the move is a protest against Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s investment in military defense company Helsing via his Prima Materia investment firm.

• In a statement, Helsing said: “Currently we see misinformation spreading that Helsing’s technology is deployed in war zones other than Ukraine. This is not correct. Our technology is deployed to European countries for deterrence and for defence against the Russian aggression in Ukraine only.”

What they said:

• Massive Attack: “In light of the (reported) significant investments by [Spotify’s] CEO in a company producing military munition drones and AI technology integrated into fighter aircraft, Massive Attack have made a separate request to our label that our music be removed from the Spotify streaming service in all territories.”

• They add: “The economic burden that has long been placed on artists is now compounded by a moral and ethical burden, whereby the hard-earned money of fans and the creative endeavors of musicians ultimately funds lethal, dystopian technologies. Enough is more than enough. Another way is possible.”