In a swift response to a recently published article on Digital Music News titled “I Just Found 37 Hate Bands On Spotify,” the music streaming site is taking steps to remove any content deemed as “hate music.”
The article listed 37 musical groups with perceived racist lyrics in their music. Following its release, the music streaming site stated in a Billboard article that it would remove any racist or hate music.
“Illegal content or material that favors hatred or incites violence against race, religion, sexuality or the like is not tolerated by us,” a spokesperson for Spotify said in a statement. “Spotify takes immediate action to remove any such material as soon as it has been brought to our attention. We are glad to have been alerted to this content – and have already removed many of the bands identified today, whilst urgently reviewing the remainder.”
Groups identified by the SPLC include Baker’s Dozen, Battlecry, Dark Fury, Kill, Baby… Kill!, Skinfull and Skull Head.
Years ago, Spotify banned other music from its streaming service that had been flagged as racist “hate bands” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Spotify also announced that it is pushing a new playlist called Patriotic Passion that includes a Jimi Hendrix rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, Lady Gaga’s “Americano,” and Khalid’s “American Teen.”
