Then there is the whiff of racism, given that the two artists subject to the playlist ban are both black. Within an online sphere dominated by just a handful of streaming companies, should any of them be allowed to become judge and jury, dictating our listening based on their moral compasses? If this kind of censorship is the future, which offences warrant being struck off the artistic roll call and which don't? And most pertinently right now, why vilify just these two artists, when there is a long history of criminal behaviour from musicians and songwriters? In the context of music, though, there are more specific questions to be answered, and burning hypocrisies to address. Innocent until proved guilty is, after all, the cornerstone of most civilised societies, and neither R Kelly or XXXTentacion have been convicted or imprisoned for their pending charges – although the latter has been whiling away his hours under house arrest. Waiting until an artist has been convicted by a court of law, rather than forming a digital lynch mob, would make more sense. Yet Spotify's stance sets an interesting – and uncomfortable – precedent. These are serious allegations by any standards. On the face of it, you might conclude that the streaming service is correctly riding the righteous wave of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements – accusations of sexual impropriety with minors against R Kelly are skewering the R&B star's career, while XXXTentacion is awaiting trial for, among other charges, aggravated battery of a pregnant woman. A s Spotify prepares to set up shop in the UAE, it has hit the headlines by banning the music of two American artists, R Kelly and rapper XXXTentacion, from its playlists.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |