Björk becomes latest artist to join ‘No Music For Genocide’ Israel boycott

Icelandic music legend Björk has become the latest artist to join the ‘No Music For Genocide’ campaign, meaning that her catalog is now geo-blocked on Israeli streaming services.

As we reported last week, the new campaign is a cultural boycott initiative which encourages artists and rights-holders to pull their music from streaming platforms in Israel, in response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.  

More than 400 artists, including Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C., Paramore, Kneecap and Wednesday, have joined ‘No Music For Genocide’, with each involved sending geo-block requests to their distributor or label. 

They are encouraging major label groups like Sony, UMG and Warner to follow suit, especially since they blocked their entire music catalogues in Russia a month into their invasion of Ukraine. 

A statement from ‘No Music For Genocide’ stated: “Culture can’t stop bombs on its own, but it can help reject political repression, shift public opinion toward justice, and refuse the art-washing and normalization of any company or nation that commits crimes against humanity.” 

“This initiative is one part of a worldwide movement to erode the support Israel needs to continue its genocide. We’re inspired by the escalating efforts in pursuit of that goal, from the recent Film Workers For Palestine pledge to Spain’s ban of Israel-bound ships and planes to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard to dockworkers in Morocco who’ve refused to load weapons onto vessels ordered by Tel Aviv.” 

The statement adds: “Many of our peers have felt, like ourselves, unsure how to use music in this moment. Our first goal with No Music For Genocide is to inspire others to reclaim their agency and direct their influence toward a tangible act. We are so grateful for all of the artists, managers and labels who have already committed to this first step, and we’re excited to expand this together. The more of us there are, the stronger we will be. This is just the beginning.” 

Björk has yet to issue a statement about her participation in the Israel boycott but has been outspoken in her advocacy for the Palestinian people in the past.  

In November 2023, she posted a series of maps of the Israel-Palestine region since 1946, writing: “Is this what you call sharing?” 

The singer has also been outspoken regarding the streaming service Spotify, calling it “probably the worst thing that has happened to musicians.” 

Speaking to Swedish outlet Dagens Nyheter, she discussed her preference for creating new music over touring.  

“The live part is, and always will be, a big part of what I do,” she said, adding: “I’m lucky because I no longer have to raise money on touring, which younger musicians are often forced to do.” 

“In that respect,” she continued, “Spotify is probably the worst thing that has happened to musicians. The streaming culture has changed an entire society and an entire generation of artists.”

It isn’t the first time that Björk has been critical of streaming platforms; she refused for her album ‘Vulnicura’ to be released on Spotify in 2015.

Earlier this year, Björk debuted her concert film Cornucopia in theatres around the world, and will release a live album of the tour on 24 October.