STU MACKENZIE of KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD Discusses Band’s Choice…
Australian psychedelic rock band, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, recently made headlines by pulling their music from Spotify. This decision came in response to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek being involved in a funding round for Helsing, a company developing AI technology for military applications. Several other artists, including Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof, also withdrew their catalogs from Spotify in solidarity.
Spotify has long been under fire for its poor payouts to artists, despite raking in significant profits. King Gizzard took a stand against Ek’s military investments by removing their music from the platform and calling for others to join them on alternative platforms.
With an extensive catalog comprising 27 albums and various live recordings, King Gizzard’s departure dealt a significant blow to Spotify and its over 1 million monthly listeners. Frontman Stu Mackenzie elaborated on the band’s decision in a recent interview, highlighting the importance of aligning their music with platforms that reflect their values.
Mackenzie expressed mixed feelings about the move, acknowledging the desire for their music to reach a broader audience while also acknowledging the unfair compensation artists receive from streaming services. Despite the difficulty of impacting the accessibility of their music, the band felt it necessary to make this decision.
While they recognize the implications of their actions and the potential risks involved, King Gizzard stands by their choice as a group that takes artistic integrity seriously. The band’s track record of experimenting with releases and unconventional methods has earned them a loyal fan base willing to follow them in this decision.
Mackenzie noted that they don’t expect a response from Ek or Spotify, emphasizing that the move was primarily to assert their independence and maintain control over where their music resides. By leaving Spotify, King Gizzard is exploring new avenues and testing the impact of their decision on their community.
In light of Spotify’s controversial payout rates and internal practices like the Perfect Fit Content initiative, which features generic tracks over real independent artists, the band’s departure underscores growing concerns within the music industry.
Fans of King Gizzard are encouraged to support the band through other means, such as attending live shows and purchasing merchandise, as the group takes a bold stance against the status quo of streaming services. The band’s upcoming tour dates are listed for those looking to enjoy their music in a live setting.