Musicians and listeners are boycotting Spotify due to AI utilization and CEO’s ties to military technology
A decision made by Melbourne musician Fenn Wilson to boycott Spotify a few weeks ago sparked a wave of other artists following suit. Wilson mentioned that while his choice may not significantly impact Spotify, the platform has never made a substantial difference for independent artists like himself either. Joining him in the protest are several Australian musicians, including bands like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Leah Senior, and David Bridie, who have chosen to remove their entire music catalogues from the streaming service.
Wilson, along with other artists, expressed their discontent with Spotify following revelations in June about the CEO, Daniel Ek, investing in a German military technology company specializing in artificial intelligence systems. Artists like Wilson view their music as a reflection of themselves and find it unacceptable to have their work associated with a platform that supports technologies contradicting their values.
Beyond artists, listeners have also been vocal about boycotting Spotify. Hiro, a former Spotify Premium user, stopped his subscription upon learning about Ek’s military technology investments. Hiro, who participates in the BDS movement against Israeli products, asserted that he does not want his money supporting potentially controversial causes.
Dr. Sophie Freeman, a researcher at the University of Melbourne specializing in music streaming and algorithmic recommendation, noted that Spotify’s low royalty payouts have long been a cause for concern. She pointed out that a single song stream on Spotify can generate minuscule royalties, significantly impacting artists’ earnings. Despite Spotify reporting a rise in royalties for Australian artists in recent years, independent artists like Wilson refute these claims, as they have seen little return on their music streaming efforts.
In addition to financial concerns, the rise of AI-generated music on Spotify has raised further questions. The Velvet Sundown, a band showcasing AI-generated music, made its way onto Spotify playlists without being identified as a purely artificial creation. This incident has fueled worries about how such content competes with genuine artists and potentially deceives listeners.
Freeman emphasized the oversaturation of streaming platforms like Spotify, where thousands of new songs are added daily, making it increasingly challenging for artists to be discovered amidst the sea of content. She suggested that the best way to support artists is by purchasing music directly, as streaming services do not always equitably compensate musicians.
Ultimately, the Spotify boycott led by artists like Fenn Wilson sheds light on the ethical concerns surrounding the platform, from low royalty payouts to controversial investments in military technology. As both artists and listeners express their disillusionment, the music industry faces a critical juncture in balancing technological advancements with ethical considerations in the digital age.