While Spotify pays (or, more often now, doesn't pay) musicians a fraction of a cent per stream, its very rich CEO, Daniel Ek, also chairs and invests hundreds of millions of euros into Helsing, a European military technology company that develops AI for defense and national security. This starkly contrasts with the peaceful and unifying force that music represents. At best, even if Helsing does some good, it's a misplaced priority for another company that should remain entirely separate and be about music (which Ek, incidentally, calls "content").

I love music more than life itself. I believe musicians should be compensated fairly by streaming platforms. I believe they should be able to publish their music on streaming platforms, and people should be able to listen to it, without funding industries that many in both camps are morally opposed to. It's heartbreaking that the music I cherish might indirectly contribute to military technology instead of supporting the artists who brought it to life.

If Daniel Ek divests from Helsing and refocuses Spotify’s financial priorities, it could lead to a major employer in the music industry taking a stand for peace and artist equity. Imagine a world where creative professionals receive the financial respect they deserve and their work isn't tied to industries of war and conflict.

Sign this petition to urge Daniel Ek to divest from Helsing and allocate resources towards fair compensation for musicians, thereby aligning Spotify’s mission with music's inherent peaceful and artistic values.