In a recent interview with Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, Björk expressed her disdain for music streaming platform Spotify, stating that it has been “probably the worst thing that has happened to musicians”. The singer criticized the streaming culture and how it has revolutionized an entire society and generation of artists, claiming that younger musicians are often forced to raise funds through touring, which can yield little financial return. According to Björk, the live part of her show will always be a crucial part of her work, which she finds fortunate as she no longer has to generate funds from touring.
Earlier this month, Spotify received criticism as several GRAMMY Awards nominees chose to boycott Spotify’s party for the event, citing the company’s unfair payment to artists. Meanwhile, a report by Music Business Worldwide revealed that Spotify founders, Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, made more than $932 million in Spotify share sales in 2024.
Björk emphasized that touring is a more sustainable way of generating revenue as a musician than through streaming services. The interview was conducted before the premiere of Apple Music Live: Björk, the hour-long concert film that features footage from her five-year-long “Cornucopia” tour. The one-of-a-kind digital and animated show, recorded in Lisbon, will release in theaters later this year.
The singer described “Cornucopia” as an answer to the environmental problems and the patriarchy. The response to these issues is not to stop but to find solutions, she explains. In October, Björk announced the release of a new book featuring 313 images from her “ambitious” “Cornucopia” tour that spanned across 480 pages. Follow Mixmag’s Assistant Editor Gemma Ross on Twitter
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