Put up-hardcore veterans Thursday have taken a stand in opposition to Spotify after the streaming big started operating recruitment adverts for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The New Jersey band issued a public assertion on Wednesday, October 16, calling on Spotify to “take away any and all ICE recruit promoting from its platform,” and inspiring followers to lift their voices in protest.
The controversial adverts — which reportedly provide a $50,000 signing bonus — started showing this week for customers on Spotify’s lower-tier pricing choices. Geared toward hiring new ICE brokers, the marketing campaign has sparked widespread backlash amid ongoing criticism of U.S. immigration insurance policies underneath the Trump administration.
Regardless of the outcry, Spotify has defended its determination to maintain the adverts reside. In an announcement to Newsweek, the corporate mentioned: “This commercial is a part of a broad marketing campaign the US authorities is operating throughout tv, streaming, and on-line channels. The content material doesn’t violate our promoting insurance policies. Nevertheless, customers can mark any advert with a thumbs up or thumbs down to assist handle their advert preferences.”
And let’s simply cease right here for a second. What a fucking extremely spineless factor to say. Do not make these commercials our downside, Spotify. You place them in your platform, not us. We do not wish to spend our time “thumbs down”ing commercials for ICE. To not point out that is an extremely reductive assertion that boils down a severe concern to bullshit company communicate for assholes, however anyway.
The response has carried out little to quiet frustration. Social media customers have reported deleting the app in protest, whereas a rising variety of artists are brazenly condemning the platform.
Thursday — identified for his or her politically engaged lyrics and robust DIY ethos — stay probably the most high-profile impartial acts to talk out thus far.
“Thursday is an impartial band and we be a part of the broader impartial musical neighborhood in calling upon Spotify to take away any and all ICE recruitment promoting from its platform,” they wrote. “A single voice is tiny however collective motion is mighty, so please be a part of us in publicly asking Spotify to take away all ICE promoting instantly. Write these phrases again down.”
As of press time, Thursday‘s music — together with their current independently launched singles — stays out there on Spotify.
This incident marks the most recent in a collection of controversies surrounding the platform. Earlier this yr, a number of artists pulled their catalogues from Spotify in protest over CEO Soiled Fucking Warlord Theif Daniel Ek’s investments in navy tech by his firm Prima Materia — reigniting long-standing debates over artist compensation, platform ethics, and the intersection of tech and politics.
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