Spotify criticised for promoting XXXTentacion's music after removal under old 'hateful conduct' policy
Spotify has been accused of hypocrisy for promoting XXXTentacion's songs in the wake of his death, having previously removed his music from custom playlists when enforcing their now abandoned "public hate content and hateful conduct" policy.
The 20-year-old rapper - real name Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy - was shot dead at a Deerfield Beach motorcycle dealership in Florida, in an apparent attempted robbery. He was pronounced dead on Monday evening at a Fort Lauderdale hospital, the sheriff's office said.
At the time of his death, the rapper was awaiting trial for false imprisonment, witness tampering, and aggravated battery of a pregnant woman. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Amongst his controversies, the rapper had also previously spoken about attacking a cellmate who he believed was gay.
He was amongst the artists who saw their music removed from Spotify's curated playlists under their hateful conduct policy, which was later dropped following criticism from music industry figures, who argued it was targeting specific artists.
In a blog post, the streaming service said the new guidelines announced in May “created confusion and concern”, adding it “didn’t spend enough time getting input from our own team”. The company said it was “moving away from implementing a policy around artist conduct”.
XXXTentacion's songs were reinstated on Spotify's popular Rap Caviar playlist. After news of his death broke on Monday, Spotify added two of his tracks, "SAD!" and "Moonlight", to the top of said playlist, which has over 9 million subscribers. A note reading "Rest In Peace, XXXTENTACION" was also added to the top of the page.
Twitter users also began to point out that a newly-created playlist titled "This is XXXTentacion" was being promoted by Spotify on their Homepage and Browse sections, which led to some accusing the company of exploiting his death.
I see why Beyonce said fuck spotify, just a few weeks ago they were bashing XXXTENTACION & taking him off all the playlist now they're trying to capitalize off his passing smh...#XXXTentacion pic.twitter.com/IEU5IojWFi
— YOUNG & BANDSOME (@JappOffJones) June 19, 2018
Personally, I think @Spotify is fake as fuck for removing @xxxtentacion songs but then as soon as he dies they put his shit at the top of Rap Caviar. Profiting off his death and shit. If he wasnt good enough to be on your shit when he was alive dont switch up now
— Jake Hallman (@JakeyDingo) June 19, 2018
Chain of events :
Spotify : no more bad people on our playlists
Spotify : :) you guys are welcome
*Spotify reads xxx got popped*
Spotify :
Here’s a new xxxtentacion essentials playlist guys !!!!— johnny utah (@clowndaddie) June 18, 2018
Wait so Spotify removes #XXXTentacion from all playlist but once he’s dead he’s back and made the main page and has his own playlist. @Spotify all about the pic.twitter.com/XdF93FlHtj
— James Pich Music (@JamesPich) June 19, 2018
.@Spotify can you please take down the rest in peace xxxtentacion playlist from the front page for people who never listened to him? He was violently homophobic and as a gay person it's pretty messed up to recommend his music to me.
— see u later supremacist (@electrapng) June 19, 2018
Spotify has been contacted for comment.
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