But Vogel said that Spotify would continue to operate its free service in Russia, to be an outlet for “non-propaganda information” through the podcasts it hosts. “We think it’s really important that information is still flowing there,” he said. Last week Spotify closed its Russian office and said it was removing content by the Kremlin-backed news outlets RT and Sputnik, as have Facebook, TikTok and other tech platforms.
The corporate moves followed a slew of announcements from artists canceling scheduled tour dates in Russia and Ukraine. Green Day was to have played at Spartak Stadium in Moscow on May 29, but wrote on Instagram that it wouldn’t make the trip “in light of current events.” My Chemical Romance, Björk, Iron Maiden, Louis Tomlinson, the Killers, Iggy Pop, AJR and Franz Ferdinand have all pulled out of shows.
Russia, despite its size, is a small market for music. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, a global trade group, Russia generated just under $200 million in recorded music revenues in 2020, making it the 16th most valuable territory in the world, behind Mexico and Sweden. But it has been seen as an important growth area and, increasingly, a destination for tours.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/10/arts/music/russia-music-canceled-concerts.html
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.