By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
Cover art by Zonagirante Studio
Don't get me wrong: at Zonagirante.com, we're not Spotify advocates. But we're not naive either. We know what's what. We know it's a monster, but—for now—it's the monster that takes independent music the furthest. And since we don't believe in moral purism without strategy, we keep using it. Not because we love it. Because we need it. Because, with all its flaws, it allows this music—the music that's truly worthwhile—to reach more people.
So… why does it disgust us so much?
🧨 Because the head of Spotify invests in war
Daniel Ek, the CEO of Spotify, doesn't spend his millions buying rare vinyl records or founding community radio stations. No. The guy has invested more than US $113 million in Helsing, a European company specializing in military artificial intelligence. We're talking about technology for drones, surveillance, and combat systems.
Yes, while you're listening to your favorite band, part of that playback ends up funding software that helps kill people.
And it's not just social media gossip: it's been confirmed the same Ek, ...with pride. Because apparently, killing with algorithms is part of the bright future he envisions for Europe.
📊 But it's not just an ethical issue: it's also an economic one
Spotify pays badly. Ridiculously badly.
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An artist needs between 230 and 1,000 views to win one dollar.
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Meanwhile, Spotify keeps 30% of the total revenue and distributes the rest... according to algorithms, not according to fairness.
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Digital music platforms like Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon pay better per stream. But of course, They don't have the reach of Spotify..
The result: Most artists don't even earn enough to buy a coffee with what they make on Spotify. And nobody seems to care, except the musicians. What a surprise.
🧱 What if we all left Spotify?
Not so fast. It's tempting, but it's not that simple.
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Bandcamp is beautiful, but it's not massive.
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Among the best-known digital music platforms — such as Tidal, Apple Music or Amazon Music — none offer the balance between ethics, fair payment and mass appeal.
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Tidal has good sound and noble speeches, but its reach is limited.
The truth is this: There is no platform that combines reach, ethics, and fair pay.. Not yet.
✊ So, what do we propose?
We're not going to throw a symbolic tantrum. We're going to keep publishing playlists on Spotify—like we did this week—but we'll do it while saying loud and clear:
💥 This cannot continue.
💥 We need a new platform, made for independent art.
💥 We don't want our music to feed drones.
💥 If a better option ever comes along, we'll leave without looking back.
🎤 Who else is saying enough is enough?
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Deerhoof They released their entire catalog. They said they don't want their music to "finance death.".
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Skee Mask, Charlie Waldren (Poolroom) And other alternative artists have also said goodbye.
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The hashtag #BoycottSpotify It's growing. Slowly, but with good reasons.
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Online petitions and articles in the international press are beginning to show the growing frustration.
🐍 And meanwhile, other art magnates…
Did you think Ek was the only one with a guilty conscience? Here are some more names:
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Warren Kanders, Museum financier, linked to chemical weapons companies.
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Len Blavatnik, Warner boss, mega-political donor.
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Yves Bouvier, collector with shady accounts.
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Poju Zabludowicz, between contemporary art and the arms industry.
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Alberto Vilar, philanthropist imprisoned for fraud.
Philanthropy is often just a fancy way to improve one's image. And culture, sadly, is often used for that purpose.
⚡ The unapologetic closure
We'll continue using Spotify. But we won't back down. We'll do it while raising our voices, because this isn't about simply leaving, but about building something better.
And although digital music platforms like Apple Music, Tidal, or Amazon Music exist, none of them offer what is truly needed.
We want a fair, sustainable streaming service that puts artists at its heart. And if it doesn't exist, we'll have to invent it.
We will continue curating playlists with discernment, publishing what moves us, and saying what others keep silent. Because yes, we are on the platform. But We are not on the boss's side..