Artists boycott Spotify as CEO invests €100m in AI defense tech: “It’s a complete contradiction of our music philosophy”
Artists are taking to social media to call on their fans to unsubscribe from the streaming service.
Image: Drew Angerer / Getty Images
Artists and users have directed sharp criticism at Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s decision to invest €100 million in an AI defense tech startup, describing the move as unethical and a “complete contradiction” of music’s philosophy.
On 9 November, Ek announced on Twitter his funding of Helsing, a Berlin-based startup which describes itself as a “new type of security and artificial intelligence company.” According to Financial Times, the firm has plans to sell its platform direct to the militaries of France, Britain and Germany.
Today, I am proud to announce that @PrimaMateria_ is investing €100m in @HelsingAI & that I am joining the board.
Prima Materia was founded to partner with teams like Helsing. Ambitious, ethical, & driven by a mission to help build a thriving society.https://t.co/46XsanjlLx
— Daniel Ek (@eldsjal) November 9, 2021
The deal has miffed users and artists alike, including electronic music producer Darren Sangita, who called for a boycott the streaming platform. “Music is being used as a weapon,” Sangita told Resident Advisor. “We believe in music as a powerful tool for peace, otherwise it’s a complete contradiction of our music philosophy.”
#BoycottSPOTIFY now! Cancel your subscription today. Artists and music lovers must not support the military #AI industry! Register your anger at the #Spotify involvement in sponsorship of Arms Corporations. This is so vile. Music is NOT War! Just wrong on every level. https://t.co/5k4Wnv6zj0
— Darren Sangita (@darrensangita) November 22, 2021
Australian vaporwave producer b l u e s c r e e n similarly denounced the move, telling Resident Advisor: “There’s nothing ethical about it, no matter how you spin it. I also left because it became apparent very quickly that Spotify’s CEO, as all billionaires, only got rich off the exploitation of others.”
Berlin-based DJ and curator Opium Hum similarly left the platform, tweeting: “Today, I am proud to announce that after having been a Spotify user since the beta in 2007, I canceled my account because of this, driven by a mission to help build a thriving society — which AI-powered weapons systems are most certainly not part of.”
Brooklyn-based percussionist-composer Sameer Gupta urged his followers to quit the platform by offering his discography on Bandcamp for a 95 per cent discount.
I just created a 95% discount on my entire @Bandcamp for anyone else who is cancelling their @Spotify. I'll send you the discount code. just do this: 1) cancel your Spotify, 2) send me a DM saying you did it 3) go to https://t.co/c1iM3RdpYv to redeem your discount 4) feel better
— Sameer Gupta (@tablajazz) November 18, 2021
