For many musicians, the long-standing financial dispute with Spotify has now escalated into a moral crisis. The revelation that Spotify’s billionaire co-founder, Daniel Ek, is a major investor in Helsing, a German defense firm developing AI for military applications, has become a powerful rallying cry for a new and determined wave of boycotts.
This news made the criticism of Spotify intensely personal. While artists have complained for years about low royalty rates, Ek’s investment added a deeply unsettling ethical dimension. For groups like Massive Attack, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, and Deerhoof, this was the final straw, prompting them to pull their music from the service in an act of protest. Their stance has resonated across the indie music scene, fueling events like the “Death to Spotify” series in Oakland.
Spotify has attempted to distance itself from the controversy, stating that “Spotify and Helsing are two separate companies.” However, for many artists and fans, the connection is too close for comfort. They argue that by using Spotify, they are indirectly supporting the development of military technology, a compromise many are unwilling to make. This ethical stand has given the anti-Spotify movement a renewed sense of urgency and moral clarity.
The controversy highlights a broader concern about the values of the tech billionaires who control our access to culture. The “Death to Spotify” organizers and participating artists are calling for a music ecosystem that aligns with their principles—one that doesn’t just pay fairly but also operates with a conscience. They are pushing for platforms and systems that are not entangled with the military-industrial complex.
This ethical protest is proving to be a potent force. It transforms the debate from being solely about financial compensation to being about fundamental values. By forcing a conversation about the unseen connections behind our daily streams, artists are compelling listeners to consider not just what they’re listening to, but what they are implicitly supporting when they press play.