Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest against founder Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in Helsing, a military AI company. The band cited a “moral and ethical burden” on artists whose work indirectly funds lethal technologies.
Helsing develops AI for battlefield decision-making and produces drones, including the HX-2, with Ek serving as chairman. Massive Attack’s move coincides with the No Music for Genocide initiative, where over 400 artists block their music from streaming services in Israel.
In a statement, the band said the decision was separate from the initiative, criticizing the funding of “dystopian technologies” through Spotify revenue. Spotify responded that it and Helsing are separate entities and that Helsing’s technology is deployed only for European defense in Ukraine.
Massive Attack join other acts, including King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Deerhoof, who have withdrawn music from Spotify over Ek’s investment. Unlike independent artists, Massive Attack cannot host their catalogue on Bandcamp.
The band urged musicians to follow a precedent set during apartheid South Africa, using their influence to protest modern-day atrocities, framing the action as a necessary ethical stance against the Israeli government.
