Spotify CEO stated that the company will not remove Kanye West’s music from its platform despite growing pressure from corporate leaders and news media outlets.
Interview with Reuters: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek stated that Kanye West’s recent antisemitic comments are “just awful.” However, those comments were not made in any West music or any other content on Spotify, so there is no reason to remove him.
Ek stated, “It is really his music, and it doesn’t violate any of our policies.”
According to Reuters, Universal Music’s Def Jam label has not requested permission to copy West’s recordings between 2002 and 2016.
Spotify’s decision comes at a time when a growing number companies have ended their relationships with West and his businesses. Vogue magazine, Balenciaga fashion house have also severed ties.
Breitbart News reported that Ari Emanuel, a Hollywood superagent, specifically called for music streaming services like Spotify and Apple to give West the boot.
Mainstream media outlets are also under pressure. Variety published an article recently titled “Should Kanye’s Music be Banned?”
Spotify had previously refused to cancel the mob after Joe Rogan was made the target of a deplatforming campaign for his comments on the coronavirus vaccine.
