Spotify starts removing artists for "hate".

This is not at all alarming: J'accuse...!

Beginning today (May 10), Spotify users will no longer be able to find R. Kelly's music on any of the streaming service's editorial or algorithmic playlists. Under the terms of a new public hate content and hateful conduct policy Spotify is putting into effect, the company will no longer promote the R&B singer's music in any way, removing his songs from flagship playlists like RapCaviar, Discover Weekly or New Music Friday, for example, as well as its other genre- or mood-based playlists.
"We are removing R. Kelly's music from all Spotify owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations such as Discover Weekly," Spotify told Billboard in a statement. "His music will still be available on the service, but Spotify will not actively promote it. We don't censor content because of an artist's or creator's behavior, but we want our editorial decisions -- what we choose to program -- to reflect our values. When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator."

So, what heinous crime did R. Kelly commit? Well, that's interesting.

Over the past several years, Kelly has been accused by multiple women of sexual violence, coercion and running a "sex cult," including two additional women who came forward to Buzzfeed this week. Though he has never been convicted of a crime, he has come under increasing scrutiny over the past several weeks, particularly with the launch of the #MuteRKelly movement at the end of April. Kelly has vociferously defended himself, saying those accusing him are an "attempt to distort my character and to destroy my legacy." And while RCA Records has thus far not dropped Kelly from his recording contract, Spotify has distanced itself from promoting his music.

He's a dirt bag. He allegedly beats women, does weird and wrong things to them, and etc. He's allegedly worse than Bill Cosby, who only drugged and raped women. And his music is shit, I might add.

The difference between R. Kelly and Bill Cosby is a CONVICTION. Cosby is busted. He has had his due process, and he is guilty. What there is against R. Kelly is at this point -nothing-. It is a series of allegations, which have in several prominent #MeToo cases been proven spurious.

The case of Jian Ghomeshi shows something else. Jian Ghomeshi is a woman beater and sexual pervert too. But in his case, it was proven in court that the women asked for it. They asked for it repeatedly, and in writing. They actually requested that Jian Ghomeshi slap them around and etc, and made dates for it. So in R. Kelly's case, given the current popularity of S&M/bondage/general perversity, maybe they asked for it.

But the really damaging thing going on here is Spotify. They are introducing an extra-judicial punishment against a man who has not even been charged with anything. They're calling it "hate content" but if you look at almost any rap artist or song you'll find all kinds of hate in there. They hate the cops, women, crackers, the gubmint, Jews, each other, they pretty much hate everything. Loudly. It's hateful. Therefore, Spotify is just another bunch of Silicon Valley pencil necks, lying through their teeth to make a buck.

One more reason to not use Spotify. Buy the music you want, keep it on your own hardware, tell Big Streaming to cram it. It is safer that way.

The Streaming Phantom