Björk Blasts Spotify as Music Industry's Biggest Setback for Artists

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January 29, 2025 at 11:46 AM

Bjork singing into microphone

Photo Credit: Björk by Zach Klein / CC by 2.5

In a recent interview with Dagens Nyheter, Icelandic artist Björk sharply criticized Spotify's impact on the music industry, calling it "probably the worst thing that has happened to musicians." The comments came during promotion for her concert film Cornucopia, which recently premiered on Apple TV+.

Discussing her creative process, Björk emphasized the importance of privacy and time in developing new material. "It is only in darkness that you can plant a new seed," she explained, noting that she still has many ideas to explore and estimates she might create five more albums in her lifetime.

While acknowledging the importance of live performances in her career, Björk highlighted the stark contrast between established and emerging artists. Unlike younger musicians who often tour out of financial necessity, she has the freedom to focus on creative work without financial pressure.

Her criticism of Spotify echoes her 2015 stance when she withheld her album Vulnicura from the platform. "It's not about the money; it's about respect," she stated, referring to the years of work that go into creating an album.

These comments align with broader industry concerns about streaming platforms' impact on artists. Recent controversies include Spotify CEO Daniel Ek's controversial statements about content creation costs and the platform's decision to reduce creator royalties, which led to songwriter boycotts of Spotify's Grammy-related events.