Bristol-based band Massive Attack has requested that their music be removed from Spotify, protesting investments made by its founder, Daniel Ek, in a defence company producing military drones and AI technology.
The band have also asked that Universal Music Group withdraw their work from all streaming services in Israel, as part of the broader “No Music for Genocide” campaign.
According to the band, Ek invested approximately €700 million (£518 million) in Münich-based firm Helsing through his venture capital fund. Helsing, the band says, produces artificial intelligence systems used in military decision-making and has expanded into manufacturing drones, aircraft, and submarines following Ek’s investment.
The removal from Spotify is separate from the request to withdraw from streaming in Israel. By targeting Spotify, Massive Attack are objecting to what they term “significant investments by its CEO” in defence industry tech. Meanwhile, the Israel request is in direct response to the country’s conduct in Gaza, with Massive Attack aligning themselves with “No Music for Genocide,” a campaign also backed by Irish rap group Kniecap among others.
The band has previously used its public platform to make ethical demands, including when they halted work with their long-time agent over a controversy involving Kneecap, and when they staged a concert only after a corporate sponsor removed branding tied to arms or fossil-fuel associations.
Spotify’s founder and chief executive, Daniel Ek, has been under pressure ever since the 2021 investment in Helsing drew backlash. This year, speaking to The Financial Times, he acknowledged criticism but stated he believed the investments to be appropriate and ethical in the context of European defence.”
Massive Attack cite the legacy of artist action during apartheid South Africa as a precedent for their stance, claiming that the situation in Israel constitutes “war crimes and genocide” fit for strong protest.
In a statement on Instagram the band said: “In support of the ‘No Music for Genocide’ initiative … we have made a formal request to our record label … that our music be removed … in the territory of Israel. Unconnected to this … and in light of … investments by its CEO … we have made a separate request … that our music be removed from the Spotify streaming service in all territories.”
The band’s demands raise difficult questions for streaming platforms, labels, and investors about the intersection of business interests, ethical perceptions, and artist freedom. Should Universal accede to the request, the move could set a precedent for other artists wishing to withhold content over moral or political concerns. For Spotify, the issue adds to a growing portfolio of controversies around corporate governance and investment ethics.
