Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest against founder Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in Helsing, a military AI company. Helsing’s technology includes AI systems for battlefield analysis and the HX-2 military drone. The band cited a “moral and ethical burden” on artists, arguing that revenue from their work ultimately funds lethal technologies.
The announcement coincides with the band joining the No Music for Genocide initiative, where over 400 artists and labels are blocking their music from streaming services in Israel. Massive Attack stressed that their Spotify withdrawal is separate from this campaign, highlighting concerns over Ek’s investment in AI-enabled munitions.
Spotify stated that it and Helsing are separate entities, and Helsing clarified its technology is only deployed in Europe for defense against Russian aggression in Ukraine. Massive Attack join other acts, including King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Deerhoof, in removing music from Spotify over ethical concerns related to Helsing.
The band has also drawn parallels to historical artist boycotts, such as during apartheid South Africa, urging musicians to take action against what they describe as ongoing atrocities in Israel. Massive Attack previously formed a syndicate supporting artists speaking out on the Palestinian situation, aiming to protect musicians from censorship or legal threats.
