Photo by Garley Gibson
Australian psych-rock mainstays King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have announced their intention to withdraw their entire catalogue from Spotify, citing ethical concerns over the streaming platform’s ties to the arms industry. The decision, revealed via the band’s social media accounts over the weekend, follows revelations that Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has invested hundreds of millions into Helsing, a Berlin-based artificial intelligence company specialising in military technologies.
The band’s post, captioned “fuck Spotify”, was accompanied by the release of a new demo collection made available exclusively on Bandcamp. In a follow-up message, the group confirmed that they had begun removing their music from the platform, though some titles remained accessible at the time of writing. A representative for the band clarified that the removal process is ongoing due to licensing agreements with multiple labels and distributors, but that the full catalogue is expected to come down in due course. With over 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Kind Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s move arrives as a decisive statement against the platform.
Ek has served as chairman of Helsing since 2021, when the fund initially contributed €100 million to the startup. According to Helsing, its technologies are aimed at enhancing defence capabilities through real-time battlefield data and AI analysis; an area that has drawn scrutiny from critics concerned about the ethical implications of AI-powered warfare.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, known for their experimental output and prolific discography, underscored their stance by soundtracking their announcement with Bob Dylan’s anti-war anthem ‘Masters of War’, and questioning whether artists and fans could collectively “put pressure on these Dr. Evil tech bros to do better”.
The band’s move has not been without criticism. Some fans and commentators pointed out the perceived inconsistency in King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s stance, noting that much of their music remains available on Yandex Music, a Russian streaming platform that has faced international scrutiny due to its ties with the Russian state and its role in disseminating propaganda. The criticism highlights the problem of how feasible ethical consistency can be in platform boycotts and the complex global web of streaming infrastructure.
Their exit joins a growing chorus of artists distancing themselves from Spotify over its alignment with military tech. Californian bands Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof have also recently withdrawn their catalogues, with the latter stating, “We don’t want our music killing people. We don’t want our success being tied to AI battle tech.”
The exodus highlights ongoing tensions between independent musicians and major streaming platforms, particularly around ethical investment, artist compensation, and the broader role of tech leadership in cultural spaces. As pressure mounts, Spotify has yet to comment publicly on the matter.
