The Massive Attack want to remove their catalog from Spotify

The Massive Attack also chose to withdraw their music from Spotify, as a sign of protest against the CEO Daniel Ek. The reason is linked to investments of approximately 700 million dollars made by the founder of the platform in the Military Startup of Artificial Intelligence Helsing, active in the development of drones and war systems. So far, independent artists and labels had taken such a position. The decision of the Massive Attack, which count almost eight million monthly listeners e I am under contract with a major, therefore marks a significant stepsimilar to the temporary boycott that Neil Young had started a few years ago. The Bristol group explained its choice through an Instagram post: “The money earned with difficulty by the fans and the creative work of the musicians they cannot finance lethal and dystopian technologies“. At the same time, the band has announced that he asked his label, Universal Music Group, the removal of the catalog from Spotify in all territories.

The decision is part of the wider support for the No Music for Genocide campaign, which involves over 400 artists and labels and which also provides for the blocking of musical diffusion in Israel. “The previous one of the artists’ actions against apartheid in South Africa and the current context of apartheid, war crimes and genocide perpetrated by the state of Israel make this campaign a moral imperative,” said the Massive Attack. For some time the band has taken place publicly against the Israeli military campaignand this choice represents the most concrete consequence. Among the names that have left Spotify in recent months Xiu Xiu, deerhoof, King Giizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hotline TNT, Wu Lyf and Young Widows. At the moment, the songs of the Massive Attack are still available on the platform: the removal may require longer times, given the mediation necessary with a major as Universal.