Young Widows have officially removed their music from Spotify, joining a growing wave of artists protesting the streaming giant after CEO Daniel Ek’s controversial investment in AI-powered military technology.
Ek, through his venture capital firm Prima Materia, helped lead a $693.6 million funding round for Helsing, a company developing artificial intelligence for warfare. The move has sparked outrage across the music community, with Australian psych collective King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard among those who already cut ties with the platform earlier this summer.
“We’ve decided to remove our discography from Spotify. The disgusting news of their CEO Daniel Elk investing profits in Helsing to create AI warfare is a breaking point. We do not support genocide. We do not support war of any kind.
“To think that our fans money is being used to invest in future machines to kill the innocent is beyond inhumane and unacceptable. We do understand that there is truly no just capitalism and every large company in existence has either direct ties or personnel within that are funding means to control, exploit and manipulate the people. We are more than aware that every streaming platform has its flaws and until people value artists enough to realize streaming has an overall negative impact on music, we will continue to use the other platforms currently available.
“We do not apologize for the inconvenience. Just as alarming as funding war from art is Spotify’s use of AI to ‘create’ music/bands, even making new albums from deceased artists. Not only does this diminish artists and degrades their legacy, but it makes something that is so inspirational, soulless and empty. We are also more than aware that AI is not going anywhere anytime soon, but it’s a tool that should be used to help humanity, not take joy from us.
“Furthermore, we feel that all platforms using numbers, likes, plays, etc… do a large disservice to artists’ in general. People who pour themselves into their music should not be subjected to a numbers game. Our art is not a competition.
“Consider the shear amount of time it takes to make a record only to have it whittled down to how many plays it receives. We feel extremely fortunate to have any support outside of our own personal creative achievements. We appreciate that support but can assure you what WE create is purely for our own personal outlets. As a band we will continue to do what we do until we’re physically unable.
“So we implore you, if you truly value an artist, buy their records, go to their shows, support them directly.”
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