King Gizzard Withdraws Music From Spotify Over AI Military Investment

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard have removed their music from Spotify in protest of CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in Helsing, a German company developing AI-powered military drones. Frontman Stu Mackenzie expressed that while the decision was difficult because it limited access to their music, it was a principled stand consistent with their long-standing critical views of Spotify. The band’s move aligns with a broader artist backlash against Spotify’s ties to military AI technology and ongoing criticisms of the platform's treatment of musicians. Mackenzie emphasized that the decision was about aligning their music with platforms they feel comfortable supporting rather than activism or financial concerns. Their catalog, which includes 27 albums and attracts over a million monthly listeners on Spotify, was removed as part of this protest. King Gizzard’s stance reflects growing unease in the music community about the ethical implications of corporate investments in military technology.