Deradoorian Exits Spotify, Removes Music from Platform
The Sound of Silence: Artists unite Against Spotify’s Ethical Discord
By Marcus Rodriguez
The music industry is humming a new tune, one of dissent and ethical reckoning. In a growing chorus of protest, artists are pulling their music from Spotify, citing concerns over CEO Daniel Ek’s investments and the platform’s treatment of musicians. The latest to join this movement is Deradoorian, the acclaimed singer-songwriter and former member of Dirty Projectors.
Deradoorian’s decision, like that of many others, stems from Ek’s financial stake in Helsing, an artificial-intelligence weapons contractor. this investment has become a flashpoint, igniting long-simmering anxieties about Spotify’s business practices and its impact on artists’ livelihoods.
“Since Spotify came along, I have always felt skeptical and opposed to their platform,” Deradoorian shared in a recent statement. “Because it became the norm, I felt like I had to just put up with it and take what I could get. Perhaps that was true more so in the nascent stages of my solo career, but it doesn’t feel that way now.”
Deradoorian’s concerns echo a wider sentiment of unease regarding the “slow erosion” of artists’ control over their music and the use of profits generated from their work. While acknowledging she hadn’t conducted exhaustive research, she stated, “We all know that Spotify practices bad business. So,I just made the choice to stop it.”
Her albums, while largely removed from Spotify, remain available on other platforms for streaming and purchase, a testament to her commitment to making her music accessible while standing by her principles.
Deradoorian joins a growing list of artists who have taken similar action, including Massive Attack, Hotline TNT, Young Widows, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Wu lyf, and king Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. Massive Attack, another prominent voice in this movement, also cited Ek’s investment in Helsing as a primary reason for their departure. They have further amplified their protest by joining “No Music for Genocide,” a campaign advocating for artists to geob