When Spotify CEO Daniel Ek invested over $1 billion AUD in Helsing — an AI defence company developing military drone technology — the backlash was immediate. Bands like Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard pulled their music in protest. But while established artists can afford to boycott, most can’t.

This episode examines the ethical and economic dilemma facing musicians in an industry dominated by platform capitalism. Spotify has long been accused of exploiting artists through low payouts, algorithmic bias, and a shift toward profit-driven podcasting. Ek’s investment in military AI, critics say, only exposes the company’s deeper values.

Can artists resist a system that both sustains and compromises them? And what does it mean when the world’s biggest music platform is literally funding war?

Reporters: Ethan Seiderman and Izzy Lewis