Māori Musician Tiki Taane Removes Music from spotify in Protest of Ethical Concerns
Auckland, New Zealand – Renowned Māori musician Tiki Taane has withdrawn his entire musical catalog from Spotify, citing deep ethical objections to the platform’s artist payouts and a recent investment by its CEO in an AI defense company. The move, announced this week, underscores a growing debate within the music industry regarding the responsibilities of streaming services and the impact of their business practices.
Taane, of Ngāti Maniapoto descent, has been a Spotify artist for over a decade but says the platform’s low remuneration for artists, particularly independent musicians, combined with the CEO’s investment in a German company developing AI-powered defense technology, proved to be a breaking point. This decision highlights a broader concern among artists about the alignment of their values with the platforms hosting their work and raises questions about the ethical implications of profiting from music while concurrently supporting industries linked to conflict.
“When it was announced that the CEO of Spotify is investing the money that he’s made from my music, everyone else’s music, plus the subscription money that people pay, he’s using that to invest into a wartech company that make drones and all sorts of stuff, which essentially is going to hurt and murder and kill people…” Taane explained.
The artist’s decision stems from long-held concerns about Spotify’s financial treatment of musicians. However,the investment in the AI defense sector,which Taane views as directly contradictory to the themes of freedom,liberation,and social justice present in his music,prompted immediate action.
“It’s a whānau decision. We’re all like, this isn’t right. I can’t be singing music, songs about freedom, standing up for your rights, revolutionary stuff… and still have my music on the platform that goes against everything I sing about. That is kaupapa Māori right there. It’s like, nah, it’s not happening,” Taane stated.
Taane is now prioritizing more ethically aligned platforms for distribution and encourages fellow artists to critically evaluate their streaming partners. He hopes his action will inspire listeners to consider the ethical implications of their music consumption and where their subscription fees are ultimately directed.
