King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have joined a growing movement of artists removing their music from Spotify in protest of CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in AI-powered military drone technology.
The wildly prolific Australian rockers have yanked dozens of albums from the platform, with only one remaining as of publication—Satanic Slumber Party, a 2022 collaborative EP with Tropical Fuck Storm released via Joyful Noise Recordings. The band could not independently remove that release because of a deal with the label, who said they would support taking it down.
After first taking a stand against the streaming giant with a simple message—”fuck Spotify”—and releasing a new collection of demos “everywhere except Spotify,” KGLW clarified their position in a statement to fans:
Hello friends
A PSA to those unaware: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek invests millions in AI military drone technology
We just removed our music from the platform
Can we put pressure on these Dr. Evil tech bros to do better?
Join us on another platform 🕊️
The band’s opposition centers on Ek’s venture fund, Prima Materia, which has funneled hundreds of millions into Helsing, a defense company developing artificial intelligence for military applications.
King Gizzard is one of many artists taking a stand—and sacrificing streaming revenue—in response to Spotify’s ties to the military-industrial complex. The Instagram account Phish on Philm has been tracking the movement for those looking to follow along.
With their music now absent from Spotify, King Gizzard fans can support the band directly via Bandcamp and other platforms. The band is set to embark on an ambitious tour blending orchestral collaborations and rock shows across North America, Europe, and Australia. The run kicks off July 28th in Philadelphia with a series of U.S. dates featuring performances alongside regional symphonies. The band will also mix in rock and rave sets at select stops and host its inaugural Field of Vision Festival in Colorado in August. Click here to find tickets.