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The reasons for the music industrys immunity to a Weinstein-like reckoning remain elusive.
Pop musics unique relationship with sexuality also looms large over the question of abuse in the industry.
With the exception of Kesha, the music industry has seen few famous accusers.
Those alleging that they have been abused by R. Kelly and XXXTentacion are civilians.
They are invisible, and so their suffering is easy to ignore.
if they are so inclined but it no longer appears to endorse the work of either musician.
Many artists who have been accused of such crimes still populate Spotifys editorial playlists.
The Mood Booster and All the Feels playlists feature Miguel, who was recentlyaccused of groping a fan.
Have a Great Day!
boasts songs by Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Elvis Presley, andElton John.
What is the moral imperative to avoid promoting the work of alleged abusers?
It is acting like two-pronged.
Removing an abusers work sends a contrary message.
It implies that no song is good enough to discount the suffering of victims.
More concretely, supporting the music of an accused abuser financially empowers them.
In great enough numbers, even Spotifys paltry per-stream payouts can add up to hush money or lawyers fees.
Among listeners who do take victims words into account, the power of an individual boycott may feel minuscule.
The advent of streaming has overhauled the way fans buy music.
We know more now, and can do less.
There is little to be found online about these protests.
These activists did not stymie the rise of Modest Mouses career.
Spotifys new policy is heartening, but it obscures a deeper problem in contemporary media consumption.
Streaming services, like the rest of the internet, relentlessly individuate.
Spotify builds individuation into the very language of its service.
Its algorithmically generated Discover Weekly playlist is full of new discoveries and deep cuts chosen just for you.
Its Daily Mixes invite the user to play the music you love, without the effort.
The ease and individuality promised by Spotify distorts musics function as a form of communication.
No music is ever made just for you.
And yet loving music is not the same as loving a particular brand of soda water.
Fans collectively gave these artists power, and they used that power, allegedly, to abuse individual fans.
It is easy to feel helpless in the wake of rape accusations against celebrities.
Despite what Spotifys branding may suggest, fans are a collective force.
Individually, there is little we can affect.
Together, we have something like power.
