Indie Rock Band Quits Spotify Over Concerns about Music Impact
Deerhoof made the bold decision to exit Spotify recently, citing concerns over the company’s association with AI battle technology. The band, currently touring and fresh off their 20th album release, “Noble and Godlike in Ruin,” issued a statement detailing their rationale for the move. The decision came after learning about Spotify’s founder, Daniel Ek, who allocated a significant portion of his wealth to a company specializing in AI battle tech.
Expressing their disapproval of Ek’s involvement with AI battle technology, Deerhoof emphasized their desire not to be affiliated with activities that could potentially harm individuals. They stated, “We don’t want our music killing people. We don’t want our success being tied to AI battle tech.” Recognizing that some artists and labels depend on Spotify for a substantial portion of their income, Deerhoof acknowledged the privilege they have in being able to remove their music from the platform without major financial repercussions.
The band criticized the rise of AI battle tech as a lucrative pursuit for the ultra-wealthy, pointing out the alarming trend of shifting away from human decision-making in areas of conflict. They highlighted the moral implications of delegating acts of violence to machines, emphasizing the removal of compassion and morality from the equation. According to Deerhoof, Spotify’s position as a data-mining entity disguised as a music company is unsustainable in the long run, with artists and users alike likely to steer clear of the platform due to privacy concerns and inadequate artist compensation.
While Spotify boasts about making music discoverable to a global audience, Deerhoof questioned the value of such exposure if it entailed associating with oligarchs investing in AI weaponry. The band rejected the notion of compromising their values for the sake of visibility, asserting their stance against aligning themselves with exploitative practices. In the face of an oppressive politico-economic system that prioritizes profit over human welfare, Deerhoof conveyed their intent to prioritize principles over financial gains, even at the cost of sacrificing the convenience of digital platforms like Spotify.
Acknowledging the complexity of removing their music from Spotify, Deerhoof expressed gratitude to their partners for supporting this decision. The process of withdrawing content from the streaming service was described as a collective effort involving various labels sharing the burden of financial loss. Despite the challenges ahead, Deerhoof remains resolute in their decision to distance themselves from Spotify and its affiliations, paving the way for potential industry-wide shifts in artist-platform relationships.