Spotify has updated their Hate Content and Conduct Policy

Music streaming service Spotify has updated its policy, and they will no longer make content decisions based on artists' behavior.

Only a couple of weeks ago, Buzzfeed News reported that Spotify would no longer recommend or promote the music of musicians who have been accused of crimes. Users were still able to listen to the targeted artists through the service at their own will.

R. Kelly and XXXTentacion had specifically been targeted by Spotify

Spotify said in a statement to Buzzfeed, “We are removing R. Kelly’s music from all Spotify owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations such as Discover Weekly...

When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator."

The company made the decision based on the years-old allegations of sex abuse against Kelly. R. Kelly was indicted on 21 counts of child pornography in 2002. He pled not guilty and was acquitted of the charges in 2008. But the accusations have left a lasting impression on the singer's reputation, and Spotify's decision follows the recent campaign by the Time’s Up initiative to boycott Kelly. Time's Up specifically called out Spotify for featuring his music.

Buzzfeed News also reported that the rapper XXXTentacion's music had also been specifically targeted by Spotify to no longer be promoted.

The 20-year-old rapper was jailed last year for felony charges that stemmed from an ongoing domestic assault case from 2016. SPIN reported that popular rap artist Kendrick Lamar threatened to pull his music from Spotify in retaliation, but the claim has not yet been confirmed.

Spotify released a statement about the updated policy

Spotify released a statement on their website to address the changes to their "hate content and conduct" policy, saying that the decision stems from the policy having been vague and creating confusion and concern.

Spotify wrote in the statement, "We created concern that an allegation might affect artists’ chances of landing on a Spotify playlist and negatively impact their future.

Some artists even worried that mistakes made in their youth would be used against them. That’s not what Spotify is about. We don’t aim to play judge and jury."

The streaming service also clarified that it has never permitted content that is considered hate speech. In other words, any artist or music that means to incite hatred or violence against people because of race, gender identity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. They promised to continue to remove the content that violates that policy.