The British music group Massive Attack has pulled its entire catalogue from Spotify, making a bold statement that goes well beyond music. The decision comes in protest against Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s personal investment in Helsing, a company developing artificial intelligence for military use. For the band, the move underscores a fundamental clash between artistic values and the business interests driving major tech platforms.
Key Points
- Massive Attack, long known for political activism, has withdrawn its music from Spotify.
- The protest is aimed at CEO Daniel Ek’s €100 million investment in Helsing.
- Helsing is a European defence tech company focused on AI for military applications.
- The band says it does not want its music revenue tied, even indirectly, to warfare technology.
Massive Attack, which emerged from Bristol in the 1980s, has always blurred the lines between music and political expression. Robert “3D” Del Naja, the group’s frontman, has called Ek’s investment a deeply troubling ethical matter. In his view, artists’ earnings that pass through Spotify should never end up supporting the development of military technology. He argues that this creates a dangerous link between creative industries and modern warfare.
At the heart of the dispute is Prima Materia, Daniel Ek’s personal investment firm. Back in 2021, the firm committed €100 million to Helsing, a German-based defence company. Helsing’s work centers on building AI-driven software that strengthens the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems of military vehicles like fighter jets and tanks. Essentially, the company is aiming to use AI to interpret real-time battlefield data from sensors, giving armies sharper informational advantages.
The band’s withdrawal has reignited a larger debate within the music world. For years, artists have spoken out about Spotify’s low royalty payouts. Now, that conversation is widening, pulling in questions about the personal investments and ethical obligations of the tech leaders who profit from their work.
Massive Attack’s stance has already drawn support from many fans and fellow musicians across social media. Their decision puts a sharp spotlight on the uncomfortable reality of how streaming profits can spill over into industries far removed from art and culture. While listeners can still find the group’s catalogue on other streaming platforms, their absence from Spotify, the world’s biggest audio streamer, delivers a pointed message about corporate accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Why did Massive Attack remove their music from Spotify?
A. Massive Attack removed their music to protest Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s personal investment of €100 million in Helsing, a company that develops artificial intelligence for military and defence purposes.
Q. What is Helsing?
A. Helsing is a European technology company that specializes in creating artificial intelligence software for the defence sector. Its technology is designed to be used in military vehicles for tasks like real-time data analysis and surveillance.
Q. Who is Daniel Ek?
A. Daniel Ek is a Swedish billionaire and entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder and CEO of the music streaming service Spotify. He made the investment in Helsing through his private investment company, Prima Materia.
Q. Is Massive Attack’s music available on other platforms?
A. Yes, the band’s music catalogue is still available on other major streaming platforms like Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.
Q. Have other artists protested against Spotify?
A. Yes, many artists have criticised Spotify in the past, mainly over low royalty payments. Neil Young famously removed his music from the platform to protest the spread of misinformation on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, which is exclusive to Spotify.
