Fresh allegations of a ‘Spotify blacklist’ are surfacing, with artists still excluded from editorial playlists if their music debuts elsewhere.
Initially, we thought this was primarily a reaction to Apple Music exclusives and pre-release promotions. But the ‘Spotify blacklist’ now seems to go beyond competing streaming services, and includes blogs, music publications, radio, or, according to our latest source, ‘anywhere in advance of Spotify’.
The concept of a Spotify blacklist isn’t a new one — Nicki Minaj says she experienced the phenomenon with her recent album, Queen. Minaj went on record saying that Spotify refused to promote her album because of her involvement with Apple Music.
A pre-release promotional push appearing on Apple Music’s Beats 1 kicked off a tweetstorm from Minaj.
“Spotify had to teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most. Oh I can’t wait for #QueenRadio on Tuesday. They took away my promotion they had promised for the 1st cpl days b/c of this.”
Spotify responded to the allegations, noting they supported Minaj with a Times Square billboard and more.
“Spotify supported Nicki Minaj with a Times Square billboard, a host of the largest playlists, New Music Friday and the new music release shelf,” the company stated. “Her song ‘Bed’ actually saw an increase based on the promotions put behind the campaign. The company continues to be big fans of Nicki.”
Despite the dust-up with Minaj last year, it appears the Spotify editorial team’s policies haven’t changed a bit.
At least one source has confirmed to Digital Music News that Spotify’s editorial team would not promote their newest release. They were told in writing that the decision was part of a global ‘release parity’ initiative, which means that Spotify won’t promote tracks that appear anywhere ‘in advance of Spotify’. In this case, the music appeared first on the site of a major music publication, a heavily-trafficked destination.
Digital Music News reviewed the correspondence, which indicated that Spotify’s policies on blocking editorial playlists are pretty clear.
The broader Spotify blacklist policy appears to include official pre-release blog teasers, radio teasers, or a partnership with a major competitor like Apple Music.
The basic message seems to be the same: debut outside of Spotify, and prepare to be blacklisted from Spotify playlists and other promotions.
We’ve reached out to Spotify for a comment on this story, but have not heard back at the time of publishing. If we receive an official comment from Spotify, we’ll update as needed.
Typical snowflakes censoring people, it’s kind of obvious what kind of people runs that company. We need to get out of this butthurt era as fast as possible.
Frankly I’m glad as I don’t want to gear her horrid rubbish
insane monopoly strategy…and it’s even more concerning knowing this company owns nothing… but people, artists are still fuelling this monster.. Spotify is only one brick in this disruptive economy which destroy more than build..(Uber,AirBnb etc.. same shit)
It Will Be Called The Greatest Depression
Headed To A Overvalued Monopoly Near You!
Daniel Ek, the owner and founder of Spotify is a crook and their.
Wait…isn’t this like…logical? If you have the music in the world…wouldn’t you want people to find it on the big platform? Doesn’t parity mean put it up everywhere at once?
Monopoly that we are aware of ..
the Performing Rights Organizations/ Government/ CRB/ record labels/ publishing – all in on it.
They know it ..I challenge one lawyer world wide in Copyright / Civil / Criminal to prove otherwise.