Massive Attack Removes Music From Spotify in Protest Against Investment in Military AI Backing Defense Efforts — UNITED24 Media

The British trip-hop band Massive Attack has become the first major music label to withdraw its catalog from Spotify in protest against the €600 million ($637 million) investment by Spotify founder Daniel Ek in Helsing, a company specializing in military artificial intelligence and developing technologies, including drones.

This was reported by The Guardian, citing the band’s Instagram post, on September 19.

Helsing, through its technology, is supporting Ukraine by providing its AI-powered drones to enhance military decision-making and operational effectiveness.

In June, Ek’s venture firm, Prima Materia, led the latest funding round for Helsing, a defense-tech company. Helsing’s software uses artificial intelligence to analyze data from battlefield sensors and weapon systems, enabling real-time military decision-making. The company is also developing its own military drone, the HX-2. Ek, who is the founder of Spotify, also serves as the chairman of Helsing.

Massive Attack made the announcement alongside the launch of the No Music for Genocide initiative, under which more than 400 artists and labels are blocking access to their music on streaming services in Israel.

“In our view, the historic precedent of effective artist action during apartheid South Africa and the apartheid, war crimes and genocide now being committed by the state of Israel renders the No Music for Genocide campaign imperative,” the band said in a statement.

“In the separate case of Spotify, the economic burden that has long been placed on artists is now compounded by a moral and ethical burden, whereby the hard-earned money of fans and the creative endeavours of musicians ultimately funds lethal, dystopian technologies.”

Helsing has denied reports claiming the company’s technologies are being deployed in the Middle East, calling it disinformation.

“Currently we see misinformation spreading that Helsing’s technology is deployed in war zones other than Ukraine. This is not correct. Our technology is deployed to European countries for deterrence and for defense against the Russian aggression in Ukraine only,” the company stated.

At the same time, Massive Attack’s catalog remains available on the Russian streaming service Yandex Music, which also operates in Israel. It is unclear whether the label officially uploaded the band’s music to the platform.

In March 2023, Massive Attack’s frontman Robert Del Naja, alongside Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, released a remix of the song “Obiymy” by the Ukrainian band Okean Elzy. Proceeds from vinyl sales were donated to UNITED24 for the reconstruction of residential buildings in Kyiv region. The band has supported Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.

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