Chad VanGaalen, Sunnsetter and More Pull Music from Spotify

A number of Canadian artists are removing their catalogues from Spotify.

Across the country, musicians are withdrawing their discography from the streamer, many citing co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek’s ties to an AI weapons company, Prima Materia.

It was reported in June that the organization led a new round of investment in defense company Helsing, which sells software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to inform military decisions. Ek is the chairman of Helsing and reportedly invested €600 million — approximately $961 million CAD.

The most recent artist to join the exodus is Ontario singer-songwriter Sunnsetter. On Sunday (July 27), the shoegaze musician, born Andrew McLeod, posted to Instagram to share his decision.

"I have no interest in supporting a platform that has almost single handedly dismantled the entire music industry and is tied directly to military industrial AI technology,” he wrote in a statement.

"Daniel Ek has literally taken the money that's coming from YOU meant to pay artists, and used that money to then turn around and invest in AI killing technology meant to further facilitate genocide around the world and support military regimes and this turn towards fascism. It's disgusting, it sickens me. I want to be freed from this cycle and I hate it."

Sunnsetter added that their label, Paper Bag Records, was supportive of their decision to withdraw from Spotify.

McLeod joins a list of Canadian musicians taking a stand. Three days ago, Calgary artist Chad VanGaalen took to Instagram to share that he removed his music from the platform. Starting the process a few months ago, VanGaalen's record labels, Sub Pop and Flemish Eye, executed what he called the "digital devil's work" to remove his discography.

Citing "just the usual 2025 s--t," — including investments in "AI weapons of war, drone technology" — VanGaalen confidently decided to depart.

"It made me feel really sad because I don't want my art to be a part of that — and my art doesn't need to be a part of that," he said.

For fans missing VanGaalen's music, he said his discography is available on Bandcamp for free.

Shortly before the current exodus, on July 10, Toronto musician Simone Schmidt of Fiver announced that they are taking down the group’s catalogue from the streaming service.

"I have been asking my family and friends not to use Spotify for a long time," Schmidt wrote. "'What is better?' Nothing. Everything. I dunno. You ask me this as if there is some good way that you can access most of the history of recorded music any time anywhere for less than $140 a year and while paying musicians properly? Do the math."

In an essay posted to Instagram, the singer-songwriter added that their band, The Highest Order, with fellow artists Paul Mortimer, Kyle Porter and Simone TB, will also begin the process of removing their music from Spotify.

Schmidt revealed that Spotify pays them the least — though those that pay more still only do so by "fractions of cents." Schmidt’s decision to withdraw from the platform is deliberate: “I'm removing my music from Spotify, because its CEO and co-founder Daniel Ek has funded a new €600 million investment into AI military defence company Helsing."

Billboard Canada has reached out to Spotify Canada for comment.

Canadian artists aren't the only ones removing their music.

Last Friday (July 25), Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard pulled nearly its entire catalog off the streamer. The Aussies first signalled their departure by saying “f--k Spotify” while promoting a new demo collection that’s exclusive to Bandcamp.

They later explained, in an Instagram story, that they oppose military investments made by Ek:

“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 🕊️”

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s Spotify departure comes a day after American rock band Xiu Xiu signaled its intent to leave the platform. “Spotify uses music money to invest in AI war drones,” they wrote in a social media statement.

“It is taking longer than we had hoped due to procedural complications but will be completed soon,” the band cautioned. “Thanks for the support and patience.”

Experimental indie rockers Deerhoof were among the first to take this stand, announcing their withdrawal from Spotify at the end of June.

"We don't want our music killing people. We don't want our success being tied to AI battle tech," they said on social media. "We are privileged that it was a pretty easy decision for us. Spotify only pays a pittance anyway, and we earn a lot more from touring. But we also understand that other artists and labels do rely on Spotify for a bigger chunk of their income, and don't judge those who can't make the same move in the short term."

When announcing their Spotify departures, Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu warned that it would take time to get their music off the platform, mainly due to label deals and other contractual complications. The same could apply to other artists a well.