Godspeed You! Black Emperor removes nearly entire catalog from streaming platforms

Canadian post-rock collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor, known for their sweeping, politically charged instrumentals, have quietly withdrawn almost all their music from major streaming services. Their catalog is no longer available on Spotify and Tidal.

The two early albums released through Kranky—”F♯ A♯ ∞” (1998) and “Lift Your Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven” (2000)—remain on Apple Music but are expected to be removed soon. The band’s full discography is still available for purchase and streaming on Bandcamp.

This move follows a growing pattern among acts such as Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, who have recently withdrawn their catalogs from Spotify in protest, citing ethical concerns over CEO Daniel Ek’s investment fund Prima Materia and its ties to defense technology companies.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s most recent album, “No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead,” released in October 2024, reflects their deeply political nature; the title refers to the Palestinian death toll during Israel’s war in Gaza as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.

This withdrawal appears deliberate and aligns with the band’s long-standing ethos, prioritizing artistic integrity and political accountability over exposure on mainstream platforms.