Australian psychedelic rock band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are eradicating their music from Spotify following CEO Daniel Ek’s involvement in an AI-driven army defence firm.
King Gizzard be part of a rising variety of bands migrating away from the platform, after it was revealed again in June that Ek had led a €600 million spherical of funding in Helsing: a German defence-tech firm that develops AI software program to boost army weapons techniques and different gear.
Posting on social media on the weekend, the band mentioned that they had “simply eliminated” their music from the platform, although a lot of it remained accessible and playable on Spotify hours later.
A spokesperson for the band instructed Guardian Australia that their “total catalogue shall be coming down”, however defined that the method “takes time due to the totally different labels and distributors”.
In an Instagram story, additionally shared by the outlet, in addition they acknowledged: “A PSA to these unaware: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek invests tens of millions in Al army drone know-how. We simply eliminated our music from the platform. Can we put stress on these Dr. Evil tech bros to do higher?”
Different artists which have left Spotify resulting from Ek’s Helsing hyperlinks embrace indie rock outfit Xiu Xiu and the art-rock band Deerhoof. Asserting their choice, Xiu Xiu posted an announcement on Instagram: “We’re presently working to take all of our music off of rubbish gap violent armageddon portal Spotify. It’s taking longer than we had hoped resulting from procedural issues however shall be accomplished quickly. Thanks for the assist and endurance.”
In a brand new interview with Anthony Fantano, Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart added additional context behind their transfer away from Spotify, the place he mentioned: “We’ve needed to for a very long time. I imply, I’ve by no means been a fan of streaming. It devalues music typically. It makes music disposable.”
He later added, “When the announcement got here that Spotify head Daniel Ek was utilizing Spotify funds to instantly put money into AI warfare homicide drones… There was simply no conceivable manner that we may very well be concerned in one thing like that.”
MusicTech has reached out to Spotify and Helsing for remark. Yow will discover out extra about King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard through their web site.
Rachel is a DIY musician who started studying guitar and keyboard from her bed room at 14. She has written information and options for MusicTech since 2022, and in addition has bylines throughout Kerrang!, Guitar.com, and The Forty-5. Although a lover of heavy music, her responsible pleasure is 2000s pop.
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