Daniel Ek, co-founder and CEO of Spotify, has been leading investments toward Helsing, a European defense tech firm. The investment itself was reported by the Financial Times at nearly $700 million. This decision has sparked serious controversy between the company and its users.
Helsing’s business involves defense research and development, putting forth resources and funding toward predominantly military technology. Such products include Altra, an AI software developed for monitoring battleground information and processing strategic data for infantry use, as well as HX-2, a strike drone that functions with both AI and human operations to engage and neutralize hostile targets.
Defense firms such as Helsing have had a significant part to play in recent times, due to the many geopolitical conflicts that have devastated countless lives. The war between Ukraine and Russia in particular has thrusted forth the interest of many of these defense firms and corporations. According to a report from the NATO Innovation Fund, venture capital funding in the defense, security and resilience sector in Europe reached an all-time high $5.2 billion in 2024.
The investments made toward Helsing were led by Ek’s venture capital firm, Prima Materia. According to Prima Materia’s website, the company “builds and develops new companies for the long term.”
Many creators on Spotify have shared their criticisms of this decision, and some have gone as far as to remove themselves entirely from the platform in protest. This includes San Francisco indie band Deerhoof, as well as the popular Australian rock band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.
“We don’t want our music killing people,” Deerhoof wrote in a post to their fans. “We don’t want our success to be tied to AI battle tech.”
The statement continues, speaking on their disapproval and distrust for Ek and Spotify as a whole, as well as the lack of transparency between Ek, Spotify and their users. Without the ability to have good faith in the company’s actions, Deerhoof believed there was no other choice but to remove themselves from the platform.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, frontman Stu Mackenzie of King Gizzard stated that the choice to leave Spotify was important to the band’s values.
“This feels like a decision staying true to ourselves, and doing what we think is right for our music, having our music in places that we feel all right about,” Mackenzie said.
This decision on Ek’s part is far from Spotify’s foundations in music and entertainment. The focus on funding AI technology during a period where generative AI music on Spotify’s platform has pushed human creators off the platform has raised tensions among the service’s many fans and consumers.
Ek is aware of the discontent among the userbase, and he chooses to hold firm on his stance toward these investments.
“I’m sure people will criticise it and that’s OK,” Ek said to the Financial Times. “Personally, I’m not concerned about it.”
