By: Adriana Yocum
Starting in the summer of 2025, a slew of artists pulled their music from Spotify, citing Daniel Ek, Spotify’s CEO and co-founder, funding of defense company Helsing through his investment fund (Prima Materia). Helsing was founded in 2021 and is a German tech startup. Helsing initially functioned as a software company, providing AI defense software. They have since began manufacturing military strike drones. This decision, as well as Spotify’s recent controversies involving ghost artist schemes and platforming AI music, has led to a notable roster of artists leaving the platform. These artists included Deerhoof (who were quoted saying ‘We don’t want our music killing people’), Hotline TNT, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Xiu Xiu (who called Spotify ‘a garbage hole violent armageddon portal’), Leah Senior, Dr Sure’s Unusual Practice, David Bridie, Massive Attack, Deradoorian, and Sylvan Esso. Additionally, Kalahari Oyster Cult pulled their entire labels catalogue. Spotify was also criticized for underpaying artists at this time.
And that brings us to the present, which appears to be pretty messy for Spotify. There is some notable restructuring occurring, and one must wonder if these moves are related to the recent backlash. Spotify claims that Daniel Ek stepping down as CEO is simply ‘a formality’, as his replacements, Chief Product and Technology Officer Gustav Söderström and Chief Business Officer Alex Norström, have already been tackling the majority of day to day operations and direction. They will still report to Ek, and Ek mentioned continuing to pursue AI opportunities as part of Spotify’s long game. Spotify shares dropped 5% following that announcement. David Kaefer, a senior executive in charge of Spotify’s music and audiobook business, has also announced his departure from the company after seven years.
In this same moment, musicians are standing on business and bringing receipts. Spotify recently stated that they are cracking down on AI ‘slop’ and want to protect the artists on their platform, but we have yet to see meaningful change.
Post-hardcore band Holding Absence made the following statement on X after an AI ‘band’ named Bleeding Verse, which was verified to be partially modeled after them, amassed more streams than them on spotify in a very short time:
“So an AI ‘band’ who cite us as an influence (ie, it’s modelled off our music) have just overtaken us on Spotify, in only two months. It’s shocking, it’s disheartening, it’s insulting – most importantly – it’s a wake-up call. Oppose AI music, or bands like us stop existing”.
Sylvan Esso took a stance as well, releasing their first single in three years, entitled ‘WDID’, while simultaneously announcing their departure from Spotify. The band states:
“We simply can’t continue to put our life’s work in a store that, in addition to all it’s other glaring flaws, directly funds war machines”.
Will Spotify enact meaningful change in response to these moves? Only time will tell.
