Sylvan Esso Back on Spotify After a Year—But They’re Not Happy About It

Electro-pop duo Sylvan Esso pulled their music from Spotify a year ago but are now reluctantly putting it back on the streaming platform due to financial struggles.

After pulling their music from Spotify last year in protest of founder Daniel Ek’s military technology investments, North Carolina electro pop duo Sylvan Esso are reluctantly putting their music back on the streaming platform. The duo were one of several artists who pulled their music from the platform last year, but now they’re announcing their decision to put it back up.

Singer Amelia Meath posted a heartfelt video on Instagram explaining the move and stressing that their political views haven’t changed. She said that while leaving Spotify has “felt really good, it’s also been incredibly hard.”

“It’s been incredibly hard in ways that we knew were coming and hard in ways that we hadn’t predicted,” Meath explained. “It has become more and more apparent that if we are going to continue to employ everyone that we employ, it is unsustainable for us to not be on that platform, so we are going to put [our music] back up on there.”

“Here is what I want you to know,” she added. “[Our] political views have not changed. We do not want to support the business of war, […] but I’d rather you didn’t listen to our music on there. Please don’t.”

“I still really believe in the decision to take our music off of there, and we just can’t figure out how to keep it off right now,” Meath concluded. “I get that Spotify is where 82% of streaming happens, but I don’t like it. […] And I’m really frustrated, but this is the reality. This is the financial reality right now.”

It’s a revealing move for a band with a small but loyal following. In a bygone era, mid-level artists could flourish quietly but sustainably on a major label or a prominent indie imprint. But these days, regardless of label size, smaller to mid-size acts are increasingly at the mercy of Spotify and its utter domination of the streaming market.

Meath thanked fans who had continued to support the band after they pulled their music from Spotify and encouraged their listeners to access their music on Bandcamp, Qobuz, Subvert, or their local record stores. Fans in the London area can see Sylvan Esso tonight at Rough Trade East, while another gig will take place at a secret location later this week.