British band Massive Attack joined over 400 artists in the No Music for Genocide campaign, blocking their tracks from streaming in Israel. The move protests Israel’s actions in Gaza. The group asked Universal to remove their music from all streaming platforms in the territory.
The campaign is modeled on the Film Workers for Palestine initiative. It includes musicians like Fontaines DC and punk-rap group Kneecap. Participants are geo-blocking content to make it unavailable in Israel. Advice on how to block music is provided on the campaign’s website.
Massive Attack also criticized Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, for investing in Helsing, a European military AI and drone company. The band said fans’ money should not fund lethal technologies. Helsing stated its technology is only for European defense and not related to Gaza.
The band drew inspiration from cultural boycotts against apartheid South Africa. They previously supported anti-war initiatives and participated in a London concert called Together for Palestine, featuring Bastille, Brian Eno, and DJ Jamie xx. Many artists are using culture to raise awareness about conflicts.
Campaigners hope the boycott increases pressure on Israel over Gaza. Massive Attack and other artists insist that music should not support violence. The No Music for Genocide initiative continues to grow, with more artists pledging to join the cultural protest.