by Gene Hoglan recently explained why Dark Angel’s music remains absent from Spotify. He shared his concerns about the platform’s evolving terms of service in an interview with We Go To 11.
The drummer addressed the streaming platform’s policies and their impact on artists’ rights.
“Do you want everybody to have access to your music? Of course you do. This is just the best option for us and the fans to be able to hear our music immediately,” Hoglan said. “I know that we are giving up — ’cause we haven’t placed it on Spotify…”
He elaborated on his specific concerns about Spotify’s recent policy changes.
“If you start taking a look at the terms of use with Spotify, they are making some massive changes right now, and those are kind of uncomfortable,” he continued. “There’s a lot of stuff going on… I just got to read the terms of some of these changes.”
Hoglan expressed his discomfort with the current situation while leaving room for future possibilities.
“I’m, like, man, I can’t be comfortable with that right at this moment. If something changes somewhere down the road, yes, of course,” he said. “But right now, it is… Just like the music industry is not here to protect those who are creating the music within the industry, this is another situation where it’s, like, ‘Wow.’”
The drummer concluded by directing fans to an alternative platform for accessing Dark Angel’s catalog.
“Right at this moment, it’s just best for us to do this. I’m gonna always tell people, check out reversedrecords,” he said. “That’s the best way to hear Dark Angel right now. And I want everybody to hear the music, so definitely, go check it out there.”
Hoglan’s concerns reflect broader tensions between artists and streaming platforms over data usage and control. These issues have become increasingly prominent as digital platforms expand their technological capabilities.
Hypebot reported that Spotify’s updated Terms of Use recently introduced restrictions barring third parties from using Spotify data to train AI models. The platform allows itself to use user data for its own machine-learning features. This asymmetrical approach has raised questions about governance, licensing, and artists’ control over their data.
The streaming giant has simultaneously been expanding its free tier features to boost engagement. TechCrunch revealed that Spotify now allows ad-supported users to pick and play specific tracks on demand. This marks a significant shift from its prior shuffle-only model for free users. This change aims to increase ad revenue and user engagement.
However, these platform improvements do not address the fundamental concerns that artists like Hoglan have raised about compensation and creative control. Music Business Worldwide noted that while these changes benefit users, they continue to generate debate about fair compensation for artists. Their music drives the platform’s success.
The Dark Angel drummer’s stance highlights the ongoing struggle between accessibility and artist rights in the digital music landscape. His decision to direct fans to alternative platforms demonstrates how some musicians are seeking greater control over their music distribution. This approach may potentially limit their audience reach.
