Music Publishers Serve Spotify Cease And Desist Notice Over Alleged 'Unlicensed' Content

In the US, Spotify is facing trouble as the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) has served the streaming service with a cease and desist letter over the platform allegedly hosting “unlicensed lyrics, music videos, and podcasts.”

The cease and desist letter obtained by Billboard was written by Danielle Aguirre, NMPA’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, who wrote that Spotify “appears to be” in direct infringement “by hosting unlicensed musical works in its lyrics, videos and podcasts” in addition to “distributing unauthorised reproductions, synchronisations, displays and derivative uses of these musical works”. Aguirre alleged that “Spotify profits from such infringement.”

While Aguirre didn’t cite specific unlicensed works or how many pieces of unlicensed works are currently on Spotify, the NMPA did comment on a new Wall Street Journal report that said Spotify is looking to introduce a remix feature.

The reported new feature will allow paid subscribers to “speed up, mash-up, and otherwise edit” songs. Edited tracks will then reportedly be part of a Spotify “virtual collection”, but users won’t be able to extract their edited tunes from the platform.

In response to that report, the NMPA wrote that “any such feature” that Spotify launches “without the proper licenses in place from our members may constitute additional direct infringement.”

A spokesperson for Spotify hit back at NMPA’s cease and desist letter, calling it a “press stunt” that’s “filled with false and misleading claims”.

“We paid a record amount to benefit songwriters in 2023, and we are on track to exceed this amount [globally] in 2024,” the spokesperson continued.

“Spotify is a platform for licenced content. We are committed to the integrity of our platform, and we have a clear process in place for rightsholders to contact Spotify about any content they believe is unlicensed.”

Last month, Spotify unveiled its latest AI concoction, which allows Premium subscribers to create their own themed playlists. The new moves are part of the platform’s growing suite of AI-powered features, which, in addition to the new Daylist feature, include the Song Psychic (launched just last month) and DJ tools.

Earlier this week, Australian artist Laura Imbruglia called for a boycott against Spotify after the streaming service made “unethical” changes to its royalty payout model.