Massive Attack have removed their catalogue from Spotify in protest at CEO Daniel Ek’s €600m (£520m) investment in the military AI company Helsing. The band cited the “moral and ethical burden” of revenue from their music funding technologies used in lethal military applications.
Helsing develops AI software to analyse battlefield data and operates the HX-2 military drone. Ek, also chairman of Helsing, invested via his venture capital firm Prima Materia. Massive Attack made their move alongside joining the No Music for Genocide initiative, where over 400 artists and labels block their music from streaming services in Israel.
In a statement, the band said Spotify’s revenue now compounds a moral responsibility, linking fan spending to “dystopian technologies.” Spotify responded that it and Helsing are separate entities, with Helsing’s technology focused on European defence in Ukraine.
Massive Attack join other acts including King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hotline TNT, Deerhoof, and Wu Lyf in removing music from Spotify over the investment. The band highlighted historic precedent from anti-apartheid campaigns and urged musicians to take coherent action against current human rights abuses in Israel.
The band has also supported a syndicate with Brian Eno, Kneecap, and Fontaines DC, aimed at protecting artists from legal and industry pressures when speaking out on Palestine.
