Latest news with #Saunier
Los Angeles Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Spotify boycott: Artists leave ‘garbage hole' platform after CEO invests in AI weapons
Greg Saunier already had reasons to be wary of Spotify. The founder of the acclaimed Bay Area band Deerhoof was well acquainted with the service's meager payouts to artists and songwriters, often estimated around $3 per thousand streams. He was unnerved by the service's splashy pivots into AI and podcasting, where right-wing, conspiracy-peddling hosts like Joe Rogan got multimillion-dollar contracts while working musicians struggled. But Saunier hit his breaking point in June, when Spotify's Chief Executive Daniel Ek announced that he'd led a funding round of nearly $700 million (through his personal investment firm, Prima Materia) into the European defense firm Helsing. That company, which Ek now chairs, specializes in AI software integrated into fighter aircraft like its HX-2 AI Strike Drone. 'Helsing is uniquely positioned with its AI leadership to deliver these critical capabilities in all-domain defence innovation,' Ek said in a statement about the funding round. In response, Deerhoof pulled its catalog from Spotify. 'Every time someone listens to our music on Spotify, does that mean another dollar siphoned off to make all that we've seen in Gaza more frequent and profitable?' Saunier said, in an interview with The Times. 'It didn't take us long to decide as a band that if Daniel Ek is going harder on AI warfare, we should get off Spotify. It's not even that big of a sacrifice in our case.' A small band yanking its catalog won't make much impact on Spotify's estimated quarterly revenues of $4.8 billion. But it seemed to inspire others: several influential acts subsequently left the service, lambasting Ek for investing his personal fortune into an AI weapons firm. Spotify did not return request for comment about Ek's Helsing investments. This small exodus is unlikely to sway Ek, or dislodge Spotify from dominating the record economy. But it may further sour young music fans on Spotify, as many are outraged about wars in Gaza and elsewhere. 'There must be hundreds of bands right now at least as big as ours who are thinking of leaving,' Saunier said. 'I thought we'd be fools not to leave, the risk would be in staying. How can you generate good feelings between fans when musical success is intimately associated with AI drones going around the globe murdering people?' Swedish mogul Ek, with an estimated wealth around $9 billion, may seem an unlikely new player in the global defense industry. But his interest in Helsing goes back to 2021, when Ek invested nearly $115 million from Prima Materia and joined the company's board. [Helsing, based in Germany, says it was founded to 'help protect our democratic values and open societies' and puts 'ethics at the core of defense technology development.'] With his investment, Ek joined tech moguls Jeff Bezos and Palmer Luckey in pivoting from nerdier cultural pursuits (like online bookselling and virtual reality) into defense. The Union of Musicians and Allied Workers said then that Ek's actions 'prove once again that Ek views Spotify and the wealth he has pillaged from artists merely as a means to further his own wealth.' A range of anti-Spotify protests followed later, like a songwriters' rally in West Hollywood in 2022 and a boycott of Spotify's 2025 Grammy party, after Spotify cut $150 million from songwriter royalties. Neil Young and Joni Mitchell pulled their catalogs in response to Rogan spreading misinformation about COVID-19. Yet eventually, both relented. 'Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify,' Young said in a pithy note in 2022. 'I hope all you millions of Spotify users enjoy my songs! They will now all be there for you except for the full sound we created.' Ek's latest investment seems to have struck a nerve though, especially in the corners of music where Spotify slashed income to the point where artists have little to lose by leaving. After Deerhoof's announcement, the influential avant-garde band Xiu Xiu announced a similar move. 'We are currently working to take all of our music off of garbage hole violent armageddon portal Spotify,' they wrote. 'Please cancel your subscription.' The Amsterdam electronic label Kalahari Oyster Cult had similar reasoning: 'We don't want our music contributing to or benefiting a platform led by someone backing tools of war, surveillance and violence,' they posted. Most significantly, the Australian rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard — an enormously popular group that will headline the Hollywood Bowl Aug. 10. — said last week that it would pull its dozens of albums from Spotify as well. 'A PSA to those unaware: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek invests millions in AI military drone technology,' the band wrote, announcing its departure. 'We just removed our music from the platform. Can we put pressure on these Dr. Evil tech bros to do better?' 'We've been saying 'f— Spotify' for years. In our circle of musicians, that's what people say all the time for well-documented reasons,' the band's singer Stu Mackenzie said in an interview. 'I don't consider myself an activist, but this feels like a decision staying true to ourselves. We saw other bands we admire leaving, and we realized we don't want our music to be there right now.' Ek's moves with Prima Materia come as no surprise to Glenn McDonald, a former data analyst at Spotify who became well known for identifying trends in listener habits. McDonald was laid off in 2023, and has mixed feelings about the company's priorities today. It's both the arbiter of the record industry and a mercurial tech giant that only became profitable last year while spinning off enormous wealth for Ek. 'It's well documented that Spotify was only a music business because that was an open niche,' McDonald said. 'I'm never surprised by billionaires doing billionaire things. Google or Apple or Amazon investing in a company that did military technology wouldn't surprise me. Spotify subscribers should feel dismayed that this is happening, but not responsibility, because all the major streamers are about the same in moral corporate terms.' McDonald said the company's push toward Discovery Mode — where artists accept a lower royalty rate in exchange for better placement in its algorithm — added to the sense that Spotify is antagonistic to working artists' values. More recently, Spotify rankled progressives when it sponsored a Washington, D.C., brunch with Rogan and Ben Shapiro celebrating President Trump's return to the White House, and raised $150,000 for Trump's inauguration (Apple and Amazon also donated to the inauguration). While Ek's investments in Helsing are not directly tied to Spotify, the money does come from personal wealth built through his ownership of Spotify's stock. Fans are right to make a moral connection between them, McDonald said. 'Ek represents Spotify publicly, and thus its commitment to music. Him putting money into an AI drone company isn't representing that,' McDonald said. 'He can do whatever he wants with his money, but he is the face of a company as controversial and culturally important as Spotify. So yeah, people want to hold him to a less neutral standard.' For artists looking to leave the service, the actual process of getting off Spotify varies. For King Gizzard, which releases its catalog on its own record labels, it was easy to remove everything quickly. Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu needed time to clear the move with several labels and former band members who receive royalties. Being a smaller, autonomous band enabled Saunier to act according to his values, even at the cost of some meaningful slice of income. He has considered that, by torching his band's relationship with Spotify, Deerhoof's music could slip from away from some fans. 'Everyone I know hates Spotify, but we've been conditioned to believe that there is no other option,' he said. 'But underground music is filled with so many beautiful examples of a mom-and-pop business mentality. I don't need to dominate the world, I don't need to be Taylor Swift to be counted as a success. I don't need a global reach, I just need to provide myself a good life.' Yet the only artists that might genuinely sway Ek's investments would be ones with a global reach on the caliber of Swift. She has pulled her catalog from Spotify before, in 2014 just after releasing her smash album '1989.' 'Music is art, and art is important and rare. Important, rare things are valuable. Valuable things should be paid for,' she said, before eventually returning to Spotify in 2017. It's hard to imagine her, or other comparable pop acts, taking a similar stand today, especially as the major labels' fortunes are so bound up in Spotify revenues. Spotify reported a $10 billion payout to rights holders in 2024, roughly a quarter of the entire global recorded music business. Its stock has surged 120% over the last year, but in the second quarter of 2025, the firm missed earnings targets and dropped 11% this week, for the stock's worst day in two years. 'While I'm unhappy with where we are today, I remain confident in the ambitions we laid out for this business,' Ek said in an earnings call. This recent, small exodus most likely didn't contribute to that. But it might add to a creeping sense among young listeners that Spotify is not a morally-aligned place for fans to enjoy beloved songs. 'I actually think Spotify will eventually go the way of MySpace. It's just a get-rich-quick scheme that will pass, become uncool, one that had its day and is probably in decline,' Saunier said. 'They wrote an email to me seemingly to do face saving, which makes me think they're more desperate than we think.' Acts like Kneecap, Bob Vylan and others have been outspoken around the war on Gaza, at real risk to their careers — proof that young fans care deeply about these issues. While Ek would argue that Helsing helps Ukraine and Europe defend itself, others may not trust his judgment. 'Maybe it's silly to expect cultural or moral leadership from Daniel Ek, but I don't want it to be silly,' McDonald said. He thinks fans and artists can morally stay on Spotify, but hopes they build toward a more ethical record industry. 'It's hard to see what 'stay and fight' consists of, but if everyone leaves, nothing gets better,' he said. 'If we're going to get a better music business, it's going to come from somebody starting over from scratch without major labels, and somehow building to a point where we have enough leverage to change the power dynamic.' King Gizzard's Mackenzie looks forward to finding out how that might work. 'I don't expect Daniel Ek to pay attention to us, though it would be cool if he did,' Mackenzie said. 'We've made a lot of experimental moves in music and releasing records. People who listen to our music have been conditioned to have trust and faith to go on the ride together. I feel grateful to have that trust, and this feels like an experiment to me. Let's just go away from Spotify and see what happens.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How long are Easter dinner leftovers safe to eat? A food safety expert weighs in on the 'danger zone'
As many Canadian families gear up for a big Easter weekend, our thoughts naturally turn to the heart of the celebration: The food. From grandma's famous bread rolls to roasted ham, Canadians are undoubtedly anticipating their holiday feasts. But amid the joyous chaos and dinner celebrations, there's a silent superhero we often overlook: Food safety. Yahoo Canada spoke to a food safety expert on how Canadians should handle their Easter leftovers and best practices to avoid any food-borne illnesses. Here's what you need to know. According to Health Canada, food-borne illness — more commonly known as food poisoning — happens when a person gets sick from eating food contaminated with harmful micro-organisms, such as bacteria, parasites or viruses. Every year, it's estimated more than four million Canadians get food poisoning. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. For young children and seniors, the consequences can be more severe. The foundation of safe leftovers begins with proper food preparation. To avoid cross-contamination, designate separate cutting boards and utensils for raw and cooked foods. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. "The importance of hand washing throughout this entire process is also something I'd recommend and I think it's often overlooked," said Brittany Saunier, the executive director at the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE). Washing your hands before you prepare and eat food, as well as after handling uncooked meat or touching surfaces, is an example of preventive measures that can reduce the risk of harmful bacteria from transferring. Additionally, the PFSE's holiday leftover guide reminds us to rinse our fruits and vegetables before use or consumption. So, you've enjoyed your Easter feast and you're stuffed, but there's a turkey or ham desperate for your attention. What should you do now? Saunier said a running conversation among food safety professionals is how they've noticed friends or family during a dinner party leaving their food out for more than two hours. "A common misconception around leftovers and storing food after you're done eating is the two-hour rule," Saunier said, adding it's important to put food away within that time, whether that means refrigerating or freezing it. She said it's natural for people to forget since everyone might be enjoying each other's company, but if you're cognizant you might do that, then she recommended making sure the food maintains its temperature. "So if it needs to be chilled, make sure it stays on ice, and if it needs to stay warm, maybe keep it on a burner so it has some sort of heat source," she said. Saunier said another misconception people have pertains to their use of containers. Though many people might pick a container that would allow them to fill it to the top, Saunier said it's better to store your leftovers in shallow containers. "It allows the food to reach a temperature that reduces your risk of illness quicker," she added. When it comes to handling larger proteins like turkey or ham, Saunier recommended cutting them up into smaller pieces before you store them so it helps them cool and reach temperature quicker. Containers should also be airtight to prevent odours from permeating the fridge and to minimize cross-contamination. Additionally, you can label containers with the date to track your storage duration easily. Regardless if you're storing a protein or vegetable, Saunier said leftovers should be consumed within three to four days. If you're freezing food, she recommended consumption within three to four months. "After the four-month freezer period, it becomes more of a quality issue than a safety issue," she said, adding your food might start to lose flavour. Keep in mind, that bacteria multiply quickest between four to 60 degrees Celsius, known as the "danger zone." It is best to keep your fridge at a four-degree temperature or below. When it's time to enjoy your leftovers, proper reheating is key. Saunier said to use a digital food thermometer to ensure meats reach an internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius to eliminate any bacteria that may have developed during storage. This step is particularly important for dishes containing meats and other protein-rich foods. "For certain soups and sauces, reheat it so it comes to a boil and then it's safe to consume from there," Saunier said.
