Massive Attack Withdraws Music from Spotify Over Military Investment

BRISTOL, United Kingdom — Massive Attack has become the first major-label band to withdraw its music from Spotify. The band took this action in protest of Spotify CEO Daniel Ek‘s €600 million investment in Helsing, a military AI company.

In June, Ek’s venture capital firm, Prima Materia, financed Helsing’s latest funding round. Helsing develops software that uses artificial intelligence to analyze data from sensors and weapons systems on battlefields, assisting military decisions. Its products include the HX-2 military drone. Ek is the chairman of Helsing.

Massive Attack announced their withdrawal on social media, alongside their involvement with the No Music for Genocide initiative, which includes over 400 artists and labels aiming to block their music from streaming services in Israel against the backdrop of military actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

The band stated, “In light of the significant investments by its CEO in a company producing military munition drones…we have made a separate request to our label that our music be removed from the Spotify streaming service in all territories.” The band emphasized the moral burden they feel, noting that fans’ money is funding technologies they deem lethal.

A spokesperson for Spotify clarified, “Spotify and Helsing are two totally separate companies,” and added that Helsing’s efforts are focused exclusively on Ukraine. They referenced misinformation regarding Helsing’s technology use in other conflict zones.

Massive Attack joins several other artists, including King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, in pulling their music from Spotify due to Ek’s ties to Helsing. Unlike those bands, Massive Attack will not host their music on Bandcamp, which is primarily for independent artists.

The group also detailed their position on Instagram, recalling past successful boycotts during South Africa’s apartheid era: “Complicity with that state was considered unacceptable…the same now applies to the genocidal state of Israel.”

Despite not releasing new music since 2010’s “Heligoland,” Massive Attack has hinted at plans for a new album in 2025. The band continues to advocate for artistic solidarity against oppressive regimes globally.