September 2025 — Iconic British trip-hop collective Massive Attack has announced they are removing their catalog from Spotify. The decision comes as a protest against the Spotify CEO’s financial involvement in a military AI company, and as part of a broader cultural boycott movement. Louder+1
Why They’re Walking Away
- Massive Attack allege that Spotify’s founder & CEO, Daniel Ek, has invested around €600 million in a defence-technology firm called Helsing, which is involved in developing AI for military applications, including munitions drones and software to assist fighter aircraft. The Guardian+1
- The band says this investment raises serious ethical issues, as they believe that streaming revenue from their music indirectly contributes to financing “lethal, dystopian technologies.” The Guardian+1
- Massive Attack are also part of a movement called “No Music for Genocide”, a coalition of over 400 artists and labels who are calling for their music to be geo-blocked in Israel as a response to alleged human rights abuses and military actions, and in some cases removing music entirely from streaming platforms in protest. The Guardian+2Times of Israel+2
What They Are Demanding
- They’ve formally requested their record label (Universal Music Group) to remove their music from Spotify in all territories. Louder+1
- They also want their music withdrawn from “all streaming platforms in Israel,” arguing that certain platforms there are complicit by not restricting access in response to the issues being protested. euronews+1
Broader Reactions & Implications
- Massive Attack join a growing list of artists who have taken similar steps—bands such as King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Deerhoof, and Xiu Xiu, among others. Louder+2The Guardian+2
- Helsing has pushed back, stating that its technology is deployed for defense purposes, particularly in Europe and Ukraine, and is not involved in any conflict zones outside that scope. The Guardian+2Consequence+2
- Spotify itself has responded by reinforcing that Helsing and Spotify are separate entities, and that the allegations connecting Helsing’s activities to revenues from streaming are being scrutinized. Louder+2The Guardian+2
What This Means for Artists, Fans & the Streaming Landscape
- For fans, this move means that Massive Attack’s music may disappear from Spotify and possibly other platforms, depending on how their label follows through.
- For artists, it highlights a growing willingness to align music publishing decisions with moral and ethical stances, not just commercial ones.
- For streaming platforms, this is another case study showing how investor behavior and non-music business dealings can affect artist relationships and public perception.
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