R. KELLY TAKES ANOTHER SHOT AS SPOTIFY LOWERS HIS PROFILE
NEW YORK — Spotify has removed R. Kelly’s music from its playlists, citing its new policy on hate content and hateful conduct.
A spokesperson said Thursday that Kelly’s music is no longer available on the streaming service’s owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations.
His music will still be available, but Spotify will not promote it.
R. Kelly’s management criticized Spotify’s move, calling the decision “shortsighted.”
A statement sent to The Associated Press on Thursday says R. Kelly is innocent of allegations he sexually abused women over the years. He was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008.
Kelly’s team says that the artist has only promoted love in his music and says Spotify is acting on “false and unproven allegations” and notes that other artists on the service have been accused or convicted of crimes.
The new policy defines hateful conduct as “something that is especially harmful or hateful,” such as violence against children and sexual violence.
It’s another setback for the R& B superstar, who has been battling allegations that he has sexually abused women for decades. While Kelly has denied the allegations and was acquitted in 2008 of child pornography charges, recent attention and a # MuteRKelly campaign has put the singer, songwriter and producer under more scrutiny. He was recently dropped from a concert in his hometown of Chicago, and there is pressure to cancel a Friday concert in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The policy will apply to songs R. Kelly performs on as a solo artist or with other artists, like “Same Girl,” which he wrote for Usher. But songs he wrote for other acts like Michael Jackson will not be affected.
Kelly isn’t the only artist affected by the policy. Rapper XXXtentacion, who is awaiting trial on charges that he beat up his preg- nant girlfriend, has also been removed from Spotify’s playlists.
However, there are myriad other artists who in theory could be the subject to the policy. Chris Brown is featured in several Spotify- created playlists; he pleaded guilty to an attack on Rihanna several years ago. And there are a multitude of songs from artists in different genres that could be construed as hateful.