Australian musicians are leading a growing exodus from streaming giant Spotify, with prominent acts including King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and Nick Allbrook removing their music from the platform in protest of CEO Daniel Ek’s substantial investment in military artificial intelligence technology. The controversy stems from Ek’s investment of over €600 million ($1 billion) in Helsing, a company developing AI-driven warfare technologies including drone strike capabilities.
King Gizzard explicitly condemned Ek’s funding of “military AI drones” in their announcement, urging fans to boycott Spotify and explore alternative streaming platforms. Their statement coincided with the removal of nearly their entire catalog, retaining only a few releases bound by licensing agreements.
Other notable artists joining the protest include experimental rock bands Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu, along with Australian musicians Cindy Lee, David Bridie, and Leah Senior.
For many artists, Ek’s military tech investments represent the breaking point after years of frustration with Spotify’s royalty structure. Leah Senior, who began removing her 2023 album from the platform, cited both ethical concerns and financial exploitation as motivating factors. The platform’s per-stream payout is significantly lower than competitors like Apple Music and Tidal, further fueling artist dissatisfaction.
Meanwhile, Deerhoof released a public statement condemning how Spotify’s business connections now link “music killing people.” The band has sacrificed over 1 million streams by leaving the platform.
Despite mounting criticism, Ek has defended his investment in Helsing through his firm Prima Materia as “the right thing for Europe” within current geopolitical contexts. The CEO, whose personal wealth has reportedly doubled since 2021, has expressed no concern regarding the artist boycott. Many musicians are exploring sync deals as an alternative revenue stream that allows them to license their music for visual media without relying on streaming platforms. Artists looking to maximize earnings may also benefit from registering with performance rights organizations to collect royalties when their music is publicly performed.
Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice is attempting to transform individual protests into a broader movement, having withheld their latest album from Spotify entirely.
The backlash against the platform extends beyond military tech connections, with multiple musicians characterizing Spotify as a “data-mining scam” or “get-rich-quick scheme” that fundamentally exploits creators.
The controversy highlights growing tensions between streaming platforms and artists, with Spotify’s algorithmic structure, streaming rules, and now its CEO’s investment choices increasingly alienating the creative community that fuels its business model.
