Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest at founder Daniel Ek investing €600m (£520m) in the military AI company Helsing, which develops AI software and drones for battlefield use. The band cited a “moral and ethical burden” on artists, arguing that revenue from their work indirectly funds lethal technologies.
The announcement coincided with their support for the No Music for Genocide initiative, in which over 400 artists and labels are blocking their music from streaming services in Israel. Massive Attack clarified their Spotify withdrawal was a separate action, emphasizing the ethical implications of Ek’s investment in military AI.
Spotify stated that it and Helsing are separate companies, with Helsing’s technology deployed only for European defense in Ukraine. Helsing added that claims of involvement in other war zones are incorrect.
Massive Attack join other artists, including King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Deerhoof, and Wu Lyf, in removing their music from Spotify due to the Helsing investment. The band highlighted historic artist-led boycotts, such as during apartheid in South Africa, as precedent for their action, and urged musicians to act in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The group has previously collaborated with artists like Brian Eno, Kneecap, and Fontaines DC to form a syndicate supporting musicians facing censorship or legal threats while expressing opposition to violence in Palestine.
