Spotify says it will NOT remove Kanye West's music after his anti-Semitic outbursts
October 29, 2022 by articlenote
Spotify says it will NOT remove Kanye West's music after his anti-Semitic outbursts because the lyrics to his songs are not offensive
Spotify said it won't remove Kanye West's music after his anti-Semitic outbursts because his music doesn't violate the platform's rules
Businesses began boycotting the musician, who claims to be the "richest black man alive," after the rapper made a spate of anti-Semitic comments
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said the comments were "terrible" but were not made on the platform itself – West's content would not be removed unless requested by his label
Universal Music Group's (UMG) label Def Jam, which owns the copyright to West's recordings from 2002 to 2016, condemned West's comments
His music is still available on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music
By Aneeta Bhole for Dailymail.Com
Released: 5:30 p.m. EDT, Oct. 29, 2022 | Updated: 5:30 p.m. EDT, Oct. 29, 2022
Music streaming service Spotify said it would not remove Kanye West's music unless his label requested it – after companies around the world severed ties with the rapper.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told Reuters West that the sick remarks were "just horrible comments" but confirmed his music would not be removed because his songs were not offensive.
Companies began boycotting the musician – who claims to be the "richest black man alive" – ​​after the rapper made a spate of anti-Semitic comments.
West has blamed "Jewish media" and "Jewish Zionists" for a series of transgressions that threaten to "put death on the Jewish people" on social media.
Ek said: "It's really just his music, and his music doesn't go against our guidelines.
"It's up to his label whether they want to do something or not."
Universal Music Group's (UMG) Def Jam label, which owns the copyright to West's recordings from 2002 to 2016 and continued to distribute his releases until last year, issued a statement condemning West.
They tweeted: "There is no place for anti-Semitism in our society. We are deeply committed to combating anti-Semitism and all other forms of prejudice."
Last week, Rolling Stone reported that West is no longer signed to Def Jam and no longer appears on their website.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek (pictured) said it wouldn't remove Kanye West's music unless his label asked for it
Businesses began boycotting West (pictured), who claims to be the "richest black man alive" after the rapper made a spate of anti-Semitic comments
Ek said those comments were "terrible," but said the comments were not made on the platform itself and would not remove his content unless his label requested it
West has released 138 singles, four promotional singles, and charted with 65 other songs.
His music is still available on Apple Music and YouTube Music.
Though there's no clear indication his music is getting a hit on streaming platforms, Billboard reports that the rapper-designer's radio play is down 21.1 percent after Instagram and Twitter made the decision earlier this month, Wests restrict accounts.
Following his 2021 album Donda, West, who had spent most of his career with the Def Jam label, finalized his deal and was able to strike music deals elsewhere.
West's reputation as an agitator has been a part of his brand throughout his career, as evidenced by a public feud with Taylor Swift, Drake and reality star and ex-partner Kim Kardashian
West (right) reluctantly apologized in an interview with Piers Morgan (left) after invoking conspiracies about Jews
As of July 2022, West was one of only seven artists in the United States to be certified by the Recording Industry Association of America to have surpassed 100 million digital singles, having sold 133 million certified digital units as a solo artist.
West's reputation as an agitator has been a part of his brand throughout his career, as evidenced by a public feud with Taylor Swift, Drake and reality star and ex-partner Kim Kardashian.
Fans condemned West after he claimed "slavery is a choice" and insisted George Floyd died of a drug overdose and not at the hands of a former Minneapolis police officer – Floyd's family is considering suing the artist.
The latest series of controversies linked to the race began in early October and has seen Adidas, Balenciaga and partnerships with the rapper, among others.
West reluctantly apologized in an interview with Piers Morgan after invoking conspiracies against Jews.
The racially motivated controversy began earlier this month when he and conservative commentator Candace Owens wore tops that read "White Lives Matter" during a presentation at Paris Fashion Week for his Yeezy line.
Categories Music Tags daily mail, Kanye West, news, spotify
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