David Diaz, Executive, Davenport Laroche

About a week after R. Kelly was back in the headlines thanks to the #MuteRKelly social media campaign, streaming music company Spotify has decided to drop the singer from its streamable playlists. According to the official statement, R. Kelly’s music will no longer be available “on (Spotify’s) owned and operated playlists or algorithmic recommendations…” While fans may still find and listen to Kelly’s music, he will not be promoted by the company.

According to Spotify, the decision was made, in part, to line up with Spotify’s new policy to refuse to promote “something that is especially harmful or hateful” through its music suggestion features.

For Kelly, who still reeling from being hit with a string of sexual abuse allegations, this is yet another difficult challenge to surmount. Kelly, though, has grown accustomed to fighting back against allegations of a sexual nature, including pornography charges, of which he was acquitted. 

Yet, as this news comes right on the heels of a renewed attack against Kelly’s reputation, the R&B star now faces a challenge that is growing almost faster than he can deal with it. In addition to this news and the related allegations, the campaign to “mute R. Kelly,” which seeks to get people not to buy or listen to his music, continues to gain steam on social media.

Unsurprisingly, the “MuteRKelly” campaign lauded the move by Spotify, posting: “It is important that those who market the work of problematic entertainers stand, in the end, with their company’s collective values… We find this decision by Spotify a victory, and is just another step in our mission to Mute. R. Kelly.”

But, why, exactly did Spotify make this move? According to the statement from the company, they are recommitting to a zero-tolerance policy for “content that expressly and principally promotes, advocates, or incites hatred or violence against a group or individual based on characteristics, including race, religion, gender identity, sex, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability…” 

Now, you could be forgiven for asking: “How does Kelly’s music violate those terms?” Because, on the surface, Kelly’s music doesn’t really cross any of those lines. But, according to Spotify, the decision was not based on Kelly’s music, but on his public behavior:

“While we don’t believe in censoring content because of an artist’s or creator’s behavior, we want our editorial decisions — what we choose to program — to reflect our values… in some circumstances, 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…”

Of course, no stand is without consequences, and fans are already lining up on both sides of this developing issue.