What Next | Daily News and Analysis TBD | Why Bands Are Leaving Spotify
Oct 19, 2025
Jamie Stewart, the talented musician from the avant-garde band Xiu Xiu, discusses why his band decided to pull their music from Spotify. He argues that streaming services pay artists almost nothing, effectively deeming it theft. The tipping point came when Spotify's owner, Daniel Ek, invested in a German defense contractor, which struck a moral chord with Stewart. He urges musicians to consider the impact of their distribution choices and promotes a deeper engagement with music, signaling a growing movement among artists to resist streaming platforms.
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Band Pulls Music Over Pay And Principles
- Shushu removed their music from Spotify and will feel the financial loss.
- Jamie says if Spotify paid a penny per stream they'd earn about 45 times more.
Streaming Encourages Disposable Listening
- Jamie argues streaming makes music disposable and diminishes emotional connection.
- He says instant skipping turns songs into commercials instead of art.
Investment In Drones Crosses A Moral Line
- The final trigger for Shushu was Daniel Ek's investment in Helsing, a drone company.
- Jamie views using music-platform profits to fund weapons as morally unacceptable.