Spotify Walks Back Hateful Conduct Policy

Earlier this month, Spotify unveiled a new and slightly controversial policy to its music platform. This policy ruffled some feathers as it was immediately used to removed two popular artists from playlists on the site.  Today Spotify is reportedly rethinking this policy.

Spotify’s “Hateful conduct” policy states:

When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful (for example, violence against children and sexual violence), it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator.

This policy may seem like it’s closer to common sense rather than controversy.  Spotify took this policy to what some have said is an extreme and banned two artists for things they have been accused of, rather than things that have been officially confirmed.

R Kelly is a musician that has been no stranger to drama in the past, and more recently the situation is no different.  R Kelly is accused of running what’s being called a “sex cult”, although no charges have been filed. Spotify pulled Kelly’s’ music from all playlists on the service.

Rapper XXXtentacion is new to the music scene, but he has serious allegations against him.  He is facing charges including aggravated battery, false imprisonment, and domestic battery.  Spotify gave him the same treatment as Kelly, removing his music from all playlists on the service.

Spotify is reportedly planning to renegotiate terms with XXXtentacion and bring his music back to playlists.  Supposedly there are no plans to relax the policy in regards to R Kelly.

This seems a little strange on the company’s part from the outside looking in. They are both facing serious charges, so why let either return to the service when they still have the policy in place? Either take a stand or don’t- half-measures aren’t helpful.

It makes sense why policies like these aren’t more common, they can be hard to balance. Spotify is finding that out the hard way.

Leo Holman

Decades of video games and comic books have molded me into the nerd with a heart of gold that I am today.  I can go full fanboy one second, and then gleefully play devil’s advocate the next- life is just more fun that way.