Björk Slams Spotify as Music Industry's Biggest Setback for Musicians

•

January 29, 2025 at 11:46 AM

Bjork singing into microphone

Photo Credit: Björk by Zach Klein / CC by 2.5

Renowned artist Björk has strongly criticized Spotify, calling it "probably the worst thing that has happened to musicians" during a recent interview with Dagens Nyheter while promoting her concert film Cornucopia on Apple TV+.

The Icelandic musician expressed concern about how streaming culture has fundamentally altered both society and an entire generation of artists. She emphasized that younger musicians are often forced to tour extensively to generate income, though she personally hasn't faced this pressure.

Discussing her creative process, Björk stressed the importance of privacy and time for artistic development: "It is only in darkness that you can plant a new seed. For the seed to grow into a healthy and vigorous plant, you need privacy." She revealed plans to continue making music, estimating she might create five more albums in her lifetime.

This isn't Björk's first critique of Spotify. In 2015, she refused to release her album Vulnicura on the platform, stating, "It's not about the money; it's about respect. Respect for the craft and the amount of work you put into it."

Her comments align with ongoing industry controversies surrounding Spotify, including recent disputes over royalty payments and criticism of CEO Daniel Ek's statements about content creation costs. The platform has faced additional scrutiny for its business decisions, including controversial political contributions and changes to its royalty payment structure that led to songwriter boycotts of Grammy-related events.