The Exodus Begins

A wave of independent artists are removing their music ​from Spotify, citing ‌ethical concerns over the company’s CEO, Daniel Ek, and his ‍venture capital firm’s investments in the defense⁢ industry. The movement began with Godspeed You! Black Emperor, who ⁣took the most drastic step by‍ removing their entire catalogue from all major streaming platforms. ⁣They’ve ⁣been joined by King gizzard & the ‍Lizard Wizard, Xiu Xiu, and Deerhoof, among others.

Hotline TNT, fresh⁣ off the release of their critically acclaimed⁢ album ‌ Raspberry Moon,has also joined the boycott. Frontman Will Anderson stated, “The company that bills itself⁣ as the steward of all recorded music has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that it does not align with the band’s values ⁣in any way.A cooler world is absolutely possible.”

The Connection to Helsing and Prima Materia

The core of the protest centers around Daniel Ek’s venture ‍capital fund, Prima Materia.Since 2021, Prima Materia has been investing in Helsing, a defense company that develops software powered ‍by‍ artificial intelligence for military applications, ⁣as reported by⁣ CNBC on June ‌17, 2025. Artists argue that spotify,​ under Ek’s leadership, is indirectly supporting the arms industry, a position that clashes with their artistic and political values.

Beyond ‍Removal: A direct ‍Appeal to Fans

Hotline‌ TNT is​ taking their protest a ‌step further. Currently on tour supporting Raspberry Moon, the band will host a “24-hour telethon” on September 5th, broadcast across Twitch, ​YouTube, and Instagram. The event aims⁤ to sell 500 copies of Raspberry Moon via Bandcamp and foster a conversation about music revelation, the role of streaming services, and the ethical ⁤considerations facing artists today.