Photo Credit: Björk by Zach Klein / CC by 2.5

Renowned artist Björk has strongly criticized Spotify, calling it "probably the worst thing that has happened to musicians" during a recent interview with Dagens Nyheter while promoting her concert film Cornucopia on Apple TV+.

The Icelandic musician expressed concern about how streaming culture has fundamentally altered both society and a generation of artists. She highlighted how younger musicians are often forced to tour extensively to generate income, though she fortunately no longer faces this pressure herself.

Regarding her creative process, Björk emphasized the importance of privacy and time for artistic development: "It is only in darkness that you can plant a new seed. For the seed to grow into a healthy and vigorous plant, you need privacy." She plans to continue creating new music, estimating she might complete five more albums in her lifetime.

This isn't Björk's first critique of Spotify. In 2015, she refused to release her album Vulnicura on the platform, stating, "It's not about the money; it's about respect. Respect for the craft and the amount of work you put into it."

Her comments align with ongoing industry concerns about Spotify's impact on musicians. The platform has faced recent controversies, including criticism of CEO Daniel Ek's comments about content creation costs and a boycott by songwriters over reduced royalty payments. Despite these challenges, Spotify recently announced surpassing $10 billion in music industry payments in 2024.

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