Following his untimely death earlier this month, the music of Steve Albini’s bands, Shellac and Big Black, is available for streaming on Spotify. Albini was renowned in the industry for his work as a producer on influential albums such as Nirvana’s ‘In Utero,’ Pixies’ ‘Surfer Rosa,’ and PJ Harvey’s ‘Rid of Me.’ In 2022, Albini removed his music from the platform after criticizing the company for providing a platform for individuals promoting anti-vaxxer theories. Albini also referred to the company as a “terrible company” that he did not want to be associated with.
In a later interview with Attack Magazine, Albini acknowledged the potential of Spotify to provide a viable income stream for independent bands with more generous, honest relationships with independent labels. He emphasized the importance of working to support such bands through the platform. The announcement comes shortly after the release of Shellac’s final album, ‘To All Trains,’ which was released posthumously following Albini’s death.
Since his passing, tributes have come in from across the industry. The Foo Fighters dedicated a rendition of ‘My Hero’ to Albini in Charlotte, North Carolina, while PJ Harvey has credited Albini with changing the course of her life during sessions for her 1993 album, ‘Rid of Me.’ Other musicians, including Joanna Newsom and Lockey from Yourcodenameis:milo, have also paid tribute to Albini.
Although Albini’s music is once again available on Spotify, the industry has lost a leading figure who stood firmly and visibly on the side of independent artists. While his contributions to the music industry will be missed, his legacy will continue to inspire new generations of artists to fight for their creative visions
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