A new campaign organized by Working Families Party, 50501 Movement and Indivisible is calling out Spotify’s refusal to stop running ICE recruitment ads and their artist compensation policy with a new Spotify Wrapped-themed campaign.
Spotify Wrapped has become a hallmark moment in music since it launched in 2014, with millions of Spotify users utilizing the recap every year to share and compare their year in listening with their followers. A cornerstone element of Spotify Wrapped is its unique visuals, which list users’ top artists, songs, and other niche features (this year shows users their “listening age” and “club”), and eventually blanket social media feeds and stories.
Less people are feeling keen to celebrate their Spotify stats this year, however, following a series of controversies — from Spotify allowing ICE to air recruitment ads on their platform (and refusing to take them down after users’ objection), to former CEO Daniel Ek’s major investment in an AI military defense company, Helsing. Artists have also continued to calls for Spotify to increase compensation for artists.
The “Spotify Unwrapped” campaign is highlighting this political fallout via a campaign that provides alternative visuals that showcase users’ favorite artists while also calling out Spotify’s decision to continue running ICE ads.
“Spotify Wrapped is supposed to celebrate community, culture, and creativity,” said Nelini Stamp, Director of Strategy for the Working Families Party. “Instead, Spotify is platforming ICE recruitment ads—and refusing to stop even when immigrant communities and listeners object. So this year, we’re using Wrapped to hold them accountable. Art should liberate, not legitimize harm.”
Artists included in the custom visuals include Lady Gaga, Tyler, The Creator, Fuerza Regida, Chappell Roan and others. In addition to sharing campaign assets on social media, organizers also encourage current Spotify users to cancel their subscription to put further pressure on the company to stop running ICE ads and to more fairly compensate artists.
Those looking to participate in the campaign can learn more and download shareable assets here.
Visual assets provided courtesy of Working Families Party, 50501 Movement and Indivisible.
