King Gizzard Boycotts Spotify, Faces AI Impersonator

Australian experimental rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard removed its extensive music catalog from Spotify in July, protesting the platform's ties to artificial intelligence used in military applications. Months later, an AI-generated impersonator mimicking the band's style surfaced on the service, prompting its swift removal after user complaints.

The Melbourne-based group, known for its prolific output and psychedelic sound, announced its departure shortly after releasing the album Infinite Sea in June. Frontman Stu Mackenzie cited Spotify CEO Daniel Ek's investment of nearly $700 million through his venture capital firm in Helsing, a company developing AI software for defense purposes. "We've been saying f*** Spotify for years," Mackenzie told the Los Angeles Times. "In our circle of musician friends, that's what people say all the time, for all of these other reasons which are well documented." The band shifted its catalog to Bandcamp, adopting a pay-what-you-want model that quickly propelled 31 of its releases to the top of the site's bestseller list.

King Gizzard joined a wave of artists boycotting Spotify over similar concerns. Groups including Deerhoof, Godspeed...