{"id":2034475,"date":"2025-09-19T13:51:14","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T13:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2034475"},"modified":"2025-09-19T13:51:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T13:51:14","slug":"massive-attack-removes-music-from-spotify-in-protest-against-investment-in-military-ai-backing-defense-efforts-united24-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/massive-attack-removes-music-from-spotify-in-protest-against-investment-in-military-ai-backing-defense-efforts-united24-media\/","title":{"rendered":"Massive Attack Removes Music From Spotify in Protest Against Investment in Military AI Backing Defense Efforts \u2014 UNITED24 Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The British trip-hop band Massive Attack has become the first major music label to\u00a0withdraw its catalog from Spotify in\u00a0protest against the \u20ac600 million ($637 million) investment by\u00a0Spotify founder Daniel Ek\u00a0in\u00a0Helsing, a\u00a0company specializing in\u00a0military artificial intelligence and developing technologies, including drones. <\/p>\n

This was reported<\/a> by The Guardian<\/em>, citing the band\u2019s Instagram post, on\u00a0September\u00a019.<\/p>\n

Helsing, through its technology, is\u00a0supporting Ukraine by\u00a0providing its AI-powered drones to\u00a0enhance military decision-making and operational effectiveness.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0June, Ek\u2019s venture firm, Prima Materia, led the latest funding round for Helsing, a\u00a0defense-tech company. Helsing\u2019s software uses artificial intelligence to\u00a0analyze data from battlefield sensors and weapon systems, enabling real-time military decision-making. The company is\u00a0also developing its own military drone, the HX-2. Ek, who is\u00a0the founder of\u00a0Spotify, also serves as\u00a0the chairman of\u00a0Helsing.<\/p>\n

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\u26a1\ufe0fMassive Attack pulled their music from Spotify after CEO Daniel Ek invested \u20ac600M in AI defense firm Helsing. <\/p>\n

Helsing says its tech helps Europe defend against Russia. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile the band remains on Kremlin-linked Yandex Music. pic.twitter.com\/qZwi0Pe2lp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UNITED24 Media (@United24media) September 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Massive Attack made the announcement alongside the launch of\u00a0the No\u00a0Music for Genocide initiative, under which more than 400\u00a0artists and labels are blocking access to\u00a0their music on\u00a0streaming services in\u00a0Israel.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn\u00a0our view, the historic precedent of\u00a0effective artist action during apartheid South Africa and the apartheid, war crimes and genocide now being committed by\u00a0the state of\u00a0Israel renders the No\u00a0Music for Genocide campaign imperative,\u201d the band said in\u00a0a\u00a0statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn\u00a0the separate case of\u00a0Spotify, the economic burden that has long been placed on\u00a0artists is\u00a0now compounded by\u00a0a\u00a0moral and ethical burden, whereby the hard-earned money of\u00a0fans and the creative endeavours of\u00a0musicians ultimately funds lethal, dystopian technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Helsing has denied reports claiming the company\u2019s technologies are being deployed in\u00a0the Middle East, calling it\u00a0disinformation.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently we\u00a0see misinformation spreading that Helsing\u2019s technology is\u00a0deployed in\u00a0war zones other than Ukraine. This is\u00a0not correct. Our technology is\u00a0deployed to\u00a0European countries for deterrence and for defense against the Russian aggression in\u00a0Ukraine only,\u201d the company stated.<\/p>\n

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Read more<\/p>\n

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Category<\/dt>\n
War in Ukraine<\/a><\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
AI Arms Race: Ukraine and Russia\u2019s Use of Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Rules of War<\/a><\/div>\n

At\u00a0the same time, Massive Attack\u2019s catalog remains available on\u00a0the Russian streaming service Yandex Music, which also operates in\u00a0Israel. It\u00a0is\u00a0unclear whether the label officially uploaded the band\u2019s music to\u00a0the platform.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0March 2023, Massive Attack\u2019s frontman Robert Del Naja, alongside Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, released<\/a> a\u00a0remix of\u00a0the song \u201cObiymy\u201d by\u00a0the Ukrainian band Okean Elzy. Proceeds from vinyl sales were donated to\u00a0UNITED24 for the reconstruction of\u00a0residential buildings in\u00a0Kyiv region. The band has supported Ukraine since the start of\u00a0the full-scale invasion.<\/p>\n

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\"Logo\"<\/div>\n
Directly support a drone unit<\/a><\/div>\n

From donor to ally on the frontlines of combat<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n