Max HeyraudIn a recent chat with Swedish publication Dagens Nyheter, Icelandic artist Björk criticised Spotify, calling it “probably the worst thing that has happened to musicians.”
Björk recognised that she is in a lucky position that she is not relying primarily on touring for revenue, which is the case for most of today’s musicians. She said: “I’m lucky because I no longer have to raise money on touring, which younger musicians are often forced to do.”
This isn’t Björk’s first criticism of streaming services. In 2015, she withdrew her album Vulnicura from Spotify, expressing her dissatisfaction with the streaming paradigm and emphasising the necessity of acknowledging the effort artists put into their work.
The interview comes ahead of Björk’s new concert film, Apple Music Live: Björk, which was released on January 24 and includes live footage from her five-year-long ‘Cornucopia’ tour.