On May 10, 2018, the digital music service Spotify released their new Hate Content & Hateful Conduct policy. In short, the company emphasizes their reach to diverse artist. However, in that reach, they do not want to promote messages or artist who promote messages of violence, discrimination, racism, sexism, misogyny and all categories alike. On the Spotify newsroom blog, the company further asserted the policy by saying:
“When we are alerted to content that violates our policy, we may remove it (in consultation with rights holders) or refrain from promoting or playlisting it on our service. It’s important to us that our values are reflected in all the work that we do, whether it’s distribution, promotion, or content creation.”
Following the release of this policy, the first artist to experience the consequences of their actions was R&B singer/song writer R. Kelly. Kelly’s music will still be available on Spotify, but will not be promoted on Spotify’s popular playlists like Rap Caviar and Are & Be. Now, one has to question how much progress that really is, but we will delve into that on another post. Spotify’s decision was also influenced on the Time’s Up organization campaign #MuteRKelly.
Following R.Kelly, XXXTenacion’s music was also removed from Spotify’s popular playlist due to him being charged with aggravated battery against a pregnant woman, domestic battery and many other heinous charges.
Fast Forward to May 15, 2018. Women’s rights organization Ultraviolet writes a letter to Spotify applauding them for their removal of the two artists mentioned above. The organizations states on their website:
“We target corporations, college campuses and universities, and the media to call out the enabling of predators against women and work toward exposing rape culture in all forms.”
And that they did. Furthermore, the organization challenges the company to take their initiative even further and remove artist like Chris Brown, 6ix9ine, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many many more who have engaged in violence against women.
The organization hopes other streaming companies will adopt their ideology in hopes to move away from a negative culture.
“We publish this as an open letter because we hope other platforms like iTunes, Google Play Music, and Pandora will continue to follow your lead.”
This maybe the domino effect to a revolution of a culture, or it maybe just another bone to keep organizations like Ultraviolet satisfied. Subscribers have already took to Spotify forums expressing their disdain with the company’s new policy. Especially subscribers who pay the $9.99 a month for a premium addles music experience. User Danielortiz223 wrote:
“I don’t understand how this company can choose for the people what they want to hear. Spotify I never had any problems before but choosing what I can hear based off of your all’s discretion? Not only no but **bleep** no. 24 hours to fix this or I cancel service. Do what you want on your free version but if I pay for it let me be. “
https://community.spotify.com/t5/Newcomers-and-Contribution/Hateful-Conduct-Policy/m-p/4482977
Is it safe to say that in this world today, companies will put their economic greed aside for the removal of a destabilizing culture?
What do you guys think?
