Have music artists finally had enough of the multi-billion dollar streaming platform?
Laura Burhenn makes music as The Mynabirds and has played in the Postal Service's live band. When she learned Spotify CEO Daniel Ek invested $700 million in military AI startup Helsing, she pulled her music and uploaded a protest monologue.
Her "Disarm Spotify" TikTok videos sparked millions of views and a wave of artist departures followed. Recent acts that have taken their music down include King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
In this episode, we're not just talking about streaming rates but getting into the wider systemic issues with music being turned into bombs.
Featured voices from the movement:
Novo • Violetta Zironi • Naley By Nature • Dan Mangan
Chapters:
00:00 – Musicians boycotting Spotify: the fury and the interconnected issues
04:00 – When music money becomes military funding: the Daniel Ek investment
09:00 – AI drones and the dystopian timeline we're already living
13:00 – The snowball effect: how individual protest becomes movement
18:00 – Platform alternatives: Qobuz, ethics, and where artists go next
23:00 – Releasing protest music on the platform you're protesting
27:00 – Artists participating in their own devaluation: the bigger picture
35:00 – From DC punk to Palestine solidarity: political music evolution
40:00 – Why outspoken artists stay silent about their own platforms
Continue the Conversation:
- Email sean@drownedinsound.org with your platform organising experiences
- Join the discussion about collective action in the creator economy
- Subscribe to DiS newsletter for weekly insights on music and resistance
Try Qobuz (Ethical Streaming Alternative):
Artists get paid 10x more than Spotify. Human-curated playlists. High-quality audio. Start your free trial via DiS (supporting independent music journalism).
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