Tag: independent music

When the Music Stops: Why Spotify’s Military AI Ties Should Matter to Artists and Listeners

Culture News

Spotify has been under fire before for its low artist payouts and corporate decision making that seems to prioritize profit over culture. But this time, the controversy is heavier; literally a matter of war and peace.

Daniel Ek, Spotify’s CEO, isn’t just running the world’s biggest music streaming service. Through his private investment firm, Prima Materia, he’s invested roughly €600 million (about $700 million) into Helsing, a European company building artificial intelligence tools for military operations. These tools include AI powered surveillance, battlefield analysis, and autonomous systems, the kind of tech many believe could escalate modern warfare.

For some artists, this is a line they won’t cross. Independent bands like Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have already announced they’re pulling their music from Spotify. They’re saying “no” to their art funding weapons development.

Why This Hits Different for Black Creatives

Music is more than entertainment in the Black community; it’s preservation, resistance, and storytelling. Our art has fueled movements, healed generations, and bridged continents. But when the same platform that profits off our streams also invests in tools of war, we have to ask: Whose battles are we funding?

Alecia Renece speaking on various reasons she’s leaving including the Ai 🤖 fiasco.

Military AI won’t just be used in far off conflicts. Historically, advanced surveillance and policing technology have disproportionately targeted Black communities, both in the U.S. and globally. If the profits from our art help fund these developments, we risk contributing to our own harm.

The Choice Before Us

Some may argue, “It’s just business,” but for artists especially independent and marginalized ones, where your music lives is a political choice. For listeners, it’s about where your money and attention flow.

Alternatives like Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and even direct-to-fan platforms give more control to artists and avoid directly funding military AI. The trade off? Less convenience, maybe but greater alignment with our values.

A Cultural Call 📱 Out

This moment is an opportunity for collective reflection:

For artists: Are we okay with our streams contributing to weapons technology?

For listeners: Are we willing to shift our habits to protect the culture and communities we love?

When music is our resistance, every play counts. And sometimes, the loudest protest is silence.

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