Music Biz: Spotify Removes R. Kelly’s Music From Its Playlists Under New Hate Content Policy
The ramifications of the #MuteRKelly movement continue. Now, Billboard reports Spotify has removed R. Kelly’s music from its editorial and algorithmic playlists.
Under Spotify’s new public hate content and hateful conduct policy, the company will no longer promote Kelly’s music in any way, and will remove his songs from playlists like RapCaviar, Discover Weekly or New Music Friday, as well as its other genre- or mood-based playlists, Billboard reports.
“We are removing R. Kelly’s music from all Spotify owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations such as Discover Weekly,” Spotify told Billboard in a statement. “His music will still be available on the service, but Spotify will not actively promote it. We don’t censor content because of an artist’s or creator’s behavior, but we want our editorial decisions — what we choose to program — to reflect our values. When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator.”
In recent weeks, the #MuteRKelly movement has picked up steam, heightened by an open letter from women of color within the Time’s Up protest movement for radio stations and companies to disengage with the singer. The letter details the long list of sexual misconduct and sexual assault allegations against R. Kelly, including marrying a girl under 18 years-old, being sued by at least four women for sexual misconduct, statutory rape, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint and furnishing illegal drugs to a minor, and being indicted on 21 counts of child pornography, among other allegations.
Source: Head over to Billboard for the full statement about the change from Spotify.
