“In light of the (reported) significant investments by its CEO in a company producing military munition drones and AI technology integrated into fighter aircraft, Massive Attack have made a request to our label that our music be removed from the Spotify Streaming service in all territories,” the band states.
The group also referenced broader geopolitical concerns in their statement: “In our view the historic precedent of effective artist action during apartheid South Africa and the apartheid, war crimes and genocide now being committed by the state of Israel renders the ’No Music For Genocide’ campaign imperative,” they add.
The group joins King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Xiu Xiu, Deerhoof and Godspeed You! Black Emperor in abandoning the platform entirely.
Beyond established acts, grassroots artists are participating in the boycott movement.
The bigger picture behind Spotify’s exodus
Fenn Wilson, a singer-songwriter, suggests collective action by smaller musicians could eventually impact Spotify’s business despite individual artists having limited leverage: “As individual, small artists, it’s hard to strike a massive blow to a company like Spotify,” he says.
