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King Gizzard Elaborates on Spotify Boycott as More Artists Withdraw Over CEO’s Military AI Backing

The frontman says pulling their 27-album catalog was a deliberate ethical move in response to Daniel Ek’s funding of AI military drones

Maclay Heriot

Overview

  • Stu Mackenzie told the Los Angeles Times that although the decision limits access for roughly 1.1 million monthly listeners, the band felt morally obligated to leave Spotify because of Ek’s Prima Materia investment in Helsing’s AI-drone technology.
  • The removal of King Gizzard’s extensive catalog underscores the protest’s real-world impact on Spotify’s offerings and highlights the band’s willingness to risk audience reach.
  • Artists including Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof and independent labels such as Joyful Noise Recordings and Polyvinyl have also pulled or pledged to pull their catalogs, turning isolated exits into a coordinated industry statement.
  • The boycott intertwines ethical objections to military applications with renewed critiques of Spotify’s per-stream payouts—roughly $0.003 to $0.005—and its policy of demonetizing tracks with fewer than 1,000 streams.
  • Musicians are shifting to alternative platforms like Bandcamp and Qobuz, as well as direct sales and touring, to sustain revenue and maintain fan engagement outside the streaming giant.