Spotify removes R Kelly music from playlists

Spotify has removed R Kelly’s music from its playlists, citing its new policy on hate content and hateful conduct.

Kelly’s music is no longer available on the streaming service’s owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations, a spokesman said.

His music will still be available but Spotify will not actually promote it.

The new policy defines hateful conduct as “something that is especially harmful or hateful”, such as violence against children and sexual violence.

Spotify said it does not censor content because of an artist’s behaviour, but the service wants programmes to “reflect” its values.

It said when an artist does something harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways it works with the artist.

Kelly has long been the target of sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.

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 home town of Chicago, and there is pressure to cancel a Friday concert in Greensboro, North Carolina.

In a statement, the founders of the #MuteRKelly movement applauded Spotify’s move.

“It is important that those who market the work of problematic entertainers stand, in the end, with their company’s collective values,” it read in part.

“We find this decision by Spotify a victory, and is just another step in our mission to Mute. R. Kelly.”

In its policy, Spotify made it clear that it does not tolerate “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”.

Kelly’s music does not apply – it has been defined by its explicit sexual nature – but he has also written love ballads, pop songs and even gospel music.

However, the new policy also delves into an artist’s behaviour.

“So, in some circumstances, when an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful (for example, violence against children and sexual violence), it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator.”

The policy will apply to songs R Kelly performs on as a solo artist or with other artists, such as Same Girl, which he wrote for Usher.

But songs he wrote for other acts such as Michael Jackson will not be affected.

Kelly is not the only artist affected by the policy.

Rapper XXXtentacion, who is awaiting trial on charges that he beat up his pregnant girlfriend, has also been removed from Spotify’s playlists.

However, there are a myriad of other artists who in theory could be 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.

Spotify said it worked with several groups to create its policy, including GLAAD, the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Centre.

It has also created what it calls an internal monitoring tool to identify content flagged as hateful and has asked users for their help as well.

R Kelly’s management team criticised Spotify’s decision and said the artist has only promoted love in his music.

A statement said Spotify is acting on “false and unproven allegations” and notes that other artists on the service have been accused or convicted of crimes. It called the decision “shortsighted”.