The ads urge listeners to “join the mission to protect America” by becoming U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, but users of the music streaming giant have taken to social media and Spotify’s website to complain, and announce their withdrawal from the audio platform.
It’s hard to find an ethical player in the media space, especially the streaming space. It’s hard to even agree on what that would look like and how it would work.
Having said that, it’s clear that Spotify isn’t it. From the first time the client paused an ad when I muted my laptop volume I knew the enshittification was coming. I’ve been Spotify free for a few years now, but decline to recommend my current solution because it’s not much better. When I have time again, I’ll be sorting my local music library and physical media.
ICE ads would have sent me over the top. That would be a FAST cancel from me.
It’s hard to find an ethical player in capitalism.
I’ve not used Spotify since they provided Rogan with a platform, ICE ads was the next logical step for that fascist friendly platform.
I made a tool to help with this. It sends encrypted Signal alerts when ICE shows up in your area based on community reports. Honestly been struggling to get the word out because everyone thinks it’s spam, but it’s legit and people are using it. iceheadsup.com Please check it out or share with someone it could help.
People still using Spotify?
Fine, I’ll be that guy - if you’re not already boycotting Spotify for half-a-dozen other reasons, you’re probably not going to for this.
I was thinking of re-subscribing, but I am probably not going to now.
Nahh, all those other reasons are kind of hidden from the average person who doesn’t read music or tech news, most of them probably have no idea that Spotify sucks. I’m sure there’s even people hearing the ad right after witnessing ICE violence firsthand
I fall into this camp. I’ve been using YT Music more than Spotify for a while now and I haven’t paid attention to any controversy since they added Joe’s podcast. “Recruiting for ICE”, however, is one of those things that will spur me to instant action.
.
Does it count as boycotting if I use the service for free with an ad blocker?
I was subscribed just so my Music Assistant could have my playlists and my kids liked the ease. I’ve exported those lists and just canceled.
I stand corrected.
You never know what the final straw will be for any given individual
Welcome warmly anyone who joins the fold – no chastisement, only positive feedback for a positive step.
Agreed, no chastisement here, just pointing out that it’s a bit ‘preaching to the converted’. Though as someone in this thread considered it a final straw, clearly it was of some use.
It is for me. I’m glad I ran across this article.
I boycott nearly everything else already. I’ve kept Spotify as a little treat even though I’m not a fan of their business practices. But this is it for me. It will be a tough adjustment, but I can’t support companies who support fascism.
Its a line that’s crossed. Podcasts and what not aren’t government. I’m generally ok with the idea that individuals spewing shit from their mouths is one thing.
Taking money from the regime in exchange for helping the regime to clamp down on human rights? That’s crossed a line. Disney learned the hard way and now Spotify will too.
Say what you will about capitalism, but I do deeply appreciate the fact that “learned the hard way” involves purely economic decisions and no actual threats of violence
I don’t remember who said it, but some billionaire equated boycotts with terrorism.
Exactly. Better late than scared back to the other side…
Plus not everybody sees every news story.
Exactly what I was going to say. With so much shit going on all the time and so many awful companies making even worse decisions, it’s easy to miss what cartoon villain-esque business companies are getting up to at any moment.
I’ve been wanting to for a few years now as the service gets worse (where is my playlist radio?) but have been complacent. This is the last thing to push me over my limit. I’ll be transferring my decade-worth of playlists this weekend.
I mean I’ve been feeling the urge to for awhile now, it’s just a lot of work to move the family to something else. This is renewing my interest in sitting down and spending the time to do it.
You say that, but me moving my family plan over to Qobuz barely even interrupted the album that we were listening to - just waited for the track to end, and then switched services. Much better sound quality, much better curated recommendations, no more supporting fascist arseholes. No time like the present, do it.
Yeah I just have to sit down and move everyone’s playlists over.
does using a modified version that makes them no money count? asking for a friend
It’s better, but they gain something by collecting and selling
youryour friends data.The patch blocks sending analytics. Besides, without anything tied to the account, they’d only get your taste and that’s it. Kinda worthless in my opinion (without the ability to serve you ads)
Is good but is also both illegal and traceable since Spotify definitely knows your IP address. Probably among the riskiest ways to get your streaming on
It’s been the most stable way for ages, and at most they’ll just ban the account. Either way I don’t know of anyone getting banned bc of this exact version. Maybe if you chat with spotify support and admit it they’ll care, but I highly doubt it’s illegal to block ad requests (or telemetry), adblock isn’t illegal and it’s no different to that.
Regarding my IP - every website I ever visited already knows it. If you’re not on static IP it’s insanely easy to change, rendering an IP ban useless.
edit: to make it simpler - there is no law that says you have to accept requests from an ad server, just like there is no law forbidding you from blocking them. And breaking ToS isn’t illegal by itself, at least over here.
I wonder how deeply integrated the ads are. Can a PiHole stop them?
Should be able to. Web players + adblock used to be a foolproof solution, I didn’t keep up with it though. I guess they could get some podcast ads and a few banners in.
Love my pinhole but it can’t stop YT ads
Yeah but they’ll just ban you. They’re not going to break down your door.
IF they care. I’m not talking about mobile apps here, you control what network requests go through or don’t. I don’t remember anyone getting arrested (or banned) for blocking ads.
edit: for clarity I’m talking about a specific patch on pc compared to modified apps on android
You’re wrong actually. I’m unsubscribing as we speak.
Was your reason, like some of the others stated, that it was the nature of the ads?
Yes.
It’s a line that was crossed. Fascist mouthpieces, while yes are very likely funded by regime allies or themselves directly, at least allowed for plausible deniability. Which is something I strongly support - innocent until proved guilty.
An advertisement recruiting for ICE is directly accepting money from the regime for suppressing human rights. There is no plausible deniability. None. Zero. Zilch. Nadda.
Military recruitment ads were different too, as it was supposed to be for the national interest to have a military to respond to INTERNATIONAL threats. (Obviously… That one is changing quicker than I’d like). It’s also usually not directly from the president himself.
But ICE, the FBI and other feds are nothing more than anti-human rights. They always have been, and it’s a very clear line I draw at monetarily supporting.
Absolutely. People are insanely slow.
Also often only leaving a service or similar if it personally affects them negatively, otherwise just seeming angry but literally changing nothing.
I quit Spotify the first time they refused to deplatform fascists.
Same. Cancelled since the gave Joe Roegen a platform for his fascist propaganda.
I wouldn’t say Rogan is a propagandist, just a convenient idiot that is a platform for fascists. Very slight distinction, but tables with Nazi’s making it a moot point.
Damnit. Ok.
A couple months ago I was listening to sound cloud ads and Krusty noems voice came on saying how she will find you, there’s no hiding, turn yourself in now for a better deal. I’m paraphrasing I hope someone has it recorded. That shit was scary, everybody should be thinking about home defense.
ive litterally never used spotify… just never really got the point when youtube has all the music I want.
I’ve stopped paying for Spotify years ago, switching between Tidal/Deezer/Qobuz a few times, but I still use it on my PC (spicetify…) It’s what I want from a desktop client. And the “discover weekly” feature recommends me great music. Using youtube really doesn’t cut it (also it’s getting increasingly difficult to use)
Its for people who used to buy their songs on iTunes. Technically a better service, but still shit. Its easy to pirate though. Reminds me of adobe software from the 2000’s.
I rarely listen to a whole album nowadays.
Pretty much since streaming music has been made easy I’ve seen people make playlists of thousands of artists. I don’t see how you can easily achieve this by pirating or buying the albums.
Making playlists on youtube I guess, but it’s not nearly as polished an experience.
There was Spotube that did a very commandable job at making a Spotify-like UI for that, but it was still way jankier than using the real thing. And it stopped working (might be back up)I’m not trying to be a contrarian, but I see comments saying there are good alternatives all the time and I have yet to find one
You can pirate Spotify directly.
Other than that, I prefer albums because the songs are part of a whole. Giant playlists are convenient, but often vacant of connection or meaning, which I think is what is important about art.
As far as pirating directly, thats not difficult to do but you do have to download everything on purpose so it takes work at first.
Personally, I think artists will more and more simply sell their own music without middlemen. The big pop acts will probably always sell out though, but thats not really music if it can’t be played live without prerecorded tracks.
You can pirate Spotify directly.
On desktop I use Spicetify, it simply removes all ads (among other things)
Are you referring to an Android app? Last time I checked it had stopped working, I should check again.
For downloading there’s deemix alsoIts mixed bag for sure reliability wise. Thanks for the link to the desktop one though thats better anyways.
I don’t think I ever paid for Spotify. I occasionally listen to podcasts that I download.
So… I guess… they still allow Nazis to spread their racist music there too?
Welp, no more Spotify for me
Just canceled and deleted my account. Swore I’d never do that, years ago.
If you’re not gonna start your own media server or don’t know how, tidal is the way to go
Why would you uninstall the app? Cancel your subscription and use Xmanager to get their premium for free. There, that way, you don’t support them with anything and still enjoy the service. 😄
When I checked that a few weeks ago it was patched and not working, was I mistaken or did it get updated?
Works no problem. They’ve just changed how it works slightly, but it works fine. It now just directs you at a link to download and already patched app. You can still choose any version you want. It has this long ad before you can get to the link, but you can either block it with blokada or watch it to support the devs.
I left Spotify with king gizz and haven’t looked back
It’s interesting to see the hate for boycotts in the comments, as if boycotts are ineffective. They absolutely are – if they can get DISNEY of all companies to change their tune, they absolutely can work on other companies. Disney is much more diversified and well-funded than Spotify is
