Why This Isn't Just Another Band Getting off of Spotify

The experimental rock group Xiu Xiu formally declared that they would be removing their music from Spotify in response to the platform's investment in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered combat drones.They wrote on Instagram: "Spotify invests in AI war drones with music money." This action puts them in line with Deerhoof, another group that withdrew following the disclosure of Daniel Ek, the CEO of Spotify, investing €600 million in the military technology firm, Helsing.

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What's Actually at Risk

• The investment from Spotify was made through Ek's fund, Prima Materia, a private investment firm which spearheaded a €600 million round for Helsing, a business that develops AI-powered military software used in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

• Removal is underway, according to Xiu Xiu, but they issued a warning about "procedural complications." In protest, they asked fans to cancel their subscriptions.

This is about moral integrity, not money. These musicians are taking a radical stance, believing that music should not be used to finance weapons.

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Fans and Social Media React

• On Instagram and X (Twitter), fans voiced concern:
  “Xiu Xiu taking their music off Spotify… I respect them for this, but of course nothing will change unless it’s someone like Taylor Swift threatening to remove their music from the platform..”
• Reddit threads question whether such pullouts could spark broader artist boycotts; but others worry it won’t move Spotify’s needle.

This isn’t the first time artists have taken a stand. Taylor Swift famously pulled her music from Spotify years ago, demanding fairer pay structures. While she later returned, the move sparked global conversations about streaming ethics. Yet without widespread support from other major artists, little structural change followed.

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Why This Is Important to Us All

1. Money vs. Art: Listeners are forced to decide whether to support platforms that use AI that is funded by the military as a result of this incident.
2. New Resistance: Leading grassroots ethical action in music, Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof are trailblazers rather than well-known artists.
3. What Will Be Spotify's Next Step? Are other artists going to follow?

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Final Take

Xiu Xiu’s decision to leave Spotify isn’t a publicity stunt, it’s a principled move. It’s a moral stand. They’re sparking a conversation about what streaming supports, and showing that even smaller artists can demand accountability.

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