…in protest of CEO Daniel Ek’s investment in an AI-powered military tech firm.
The prolific Australian psych-rock group King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard is the latest band to cut ties with Spotify in protest of CEO Daniel Ek's increasing ties with the arms industry - specifically his investment in a controversial AI-driven military tech firm.
Ek co-founded the investment firm Prima Materia, which has invested heavily in Helsing, a German company developing AI for use in warfare, including drone technology.
The Financial Times recently reported that Prima Materia led a €600 million funding round for Helsing and had previously backed the company before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The news has sparked strong backlash from musicians who say they no longer want to be associated with a platform whose profits are being funnelled into weapons development.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, known for hits like 'Work This Time' and 'Robot Stop', have removed nearly all of their music from Spotify, only leaving a few releases due to existing licensing deals. They announced the decision on Instagram, stating their new demos were available “everywhere except Spotify,” adding “f*** Spotify.”
