Spotify Under Fire: Military Investments, Price Hikes, and a Growing Exodus?
November 28, 2025 – The music world is buzzing, and not with a new hit song. Spotify, the dominant force in music streaming, is facing a storm of criticism over its CEO’s investments in military technology, recent price increases, and continued struggles to fairly compensate artists. The controversy is prompting a re-evaluation of the platform’s ethics and a growing movement towards alternative streaming services. This is a developing story, and archyde.com is bringing you the latest updates.
Spotify’s Controversial Investments: From Playlists to Drones
The core of the current uproar centers around Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s investment company, Prima Materia, and its substantial €700 million investment in Helsing GmbH. Helsing builds military equipment, including submarines, airplanes, and AI-controlled drones. This revelation has sparked outrage among artists and users alike, with some, like indie rock band Deerhoof, already pulling their music from the platform in protest. Deerhoof stated they didn’t want their music “to kill people,” a sentiment resonating with a growing number of concerned listeners.
While a mass exodus hasn’t materialized, the question remains: can a platform built on creativity and connection ethically profit from the tools of warfare? The disconnect between Spotify’s core function and its CEO’s investments is proving difficult for many to reconcile.
Price Hikes Add Fuel to the Fire
Adding to the discontent, Spotify recently increased subscription prices, with the standard premium plan rising from €10.99 to €12.99. While a two-euro increase might seem minor, it’s viewed as particularly galling given the platform’s existing issues with artist compensation. Many argue that the price hike feels unjustified when artists are still receiving paltry payouts for their work.
Currently, a band needs approximately 2,000 streams to earn just ten cents, a figure that doesn’t even account for the fees charged by digital distributors like Distrokid. This results in margins that are four times lower than those offered by competitors like Tidal, which prioritizes higher artist payouts.
Beyond Finances: Controversial Advertising and AI-Generated Content
The issues extend beyond financial concerns. Spotify has also faced criticism for running advertisements for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a controversial agency known for its harsh immigration policies. Despite widespread condemnation, Spotify defended the ad, stating it didn’t violate their guidelines. This decision raised questions about the platform’s commitment to social responsibility.
Furthermore, the rise of AI-generated music on Spotify has introduced another layer of concern. Questionable content, including lyrics with potentially harmful ideologies, has surfaced in popular playlists like “Viral 50 – Netherlands.” While Spotify has removed some of this content, the incident highlights the challenges of moderating a platform flooded with AI-created material and the slow response times to problematic uploads.
Is It Time to Say “Thank You, Next?” – Exploring Alternatives
For many, the cumulative effect of these controversies is pushing them to reconsider their relationship with Spotify. The convenience and vast music library are no longer enough to outweigh the ethical concerns and perceived unfairness. Fortunately, viable alternatives exist.
Here are a few platforms to consider:
- Tidal: Known for its high-fidelity audio and commitment to artist compensation.
- Apple Music: Offers a seamless experience for Apple users and a vast catalog.
- Deezer: Provides a personalized music experience and a focus on discovery.
- Bandcamp: Directly supports artists by allowing them to sell music and merchandise.
Transferring playlists to these platforms is often a simple process, with many offering one-click import options. And for audiophiles, some alternatives even offer higher audio quality than Spotify.
The debate surrounding Spotify’s practices is far from over. As users and artists continue to voice their concerns, the platform faces a critical juncture. Whether it will address these issues and regain trust, or continue down a path of controversy, remains to be seen. Stay tuned to archyde.com for ongoing coverage of this developing story and the evolving landscape of the music streaming industry.
