Massive Attack have this week announced that they will be joining over 4,000 bands, including the likes of Amyl and the Sniffers and Primal Scream, in banning their music from being streamed in Israel.
In a statement released via the Band’s Instagram, they announced their plans to counteract what is in their words a “genocidal state in Israel.” this includes removing their music from Spotify and all other streaming services in the region.
The Band said the following:
“We’d appeal to all musicians to transfer their sadness, anger and artistic contributions into a coherent, reasonable & vital action to end the unspeakable hell being visited upon the Palestinians hour after hour.”
“In 1991 the scourge of apartheid violence fell from South Africa, aided from a distance by public boycotts, protests, & the withdrawal of work by artists, musicians and actors. Complicity with that state was considered unacceptable. In 2025 the same now applies to the genocidal state of Israel. ”
‘No Music For Genocide’ say their movement, which they call a ‘cultural boycott of Israel, is not only for renowned artists like Massive Attack, but for those at every level of the industry:
“While big earners and major label artists also have a critical role to play in this fight, the goals of No Music For Genocide stretch beyond raw financial impact. Each of us can collectively push our different scenes, communities, and cultures toward a ‘new normal’ in which pro-Palestine efforts are common sense.”
“This initiative is borderless and open to all artists and labels who want to boycott. We hope it leads to additional efforts against the music industry’s complicity.”
There have been instances of artists removing material from Spotify in weeks gone, due largely to the business ventures of CEO Daniel Ek. A 693 million dollar investment in Helsing, a defence company located in Europe, has sparked mass controversy.
Helsing is a company that uses AI to analyse weaponry, and even develops military drones itself. Its involvement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, alongside the war in Gaza have caused many artists to pull their music from Spotify, particularly in conflict regions.
