Don’t you hate when you’re vibing at the club, and the DJ drops “Bump N’ Grind?”
The R&B song instantly recalls the sins of its creator, and subjecting others to R. Kelly’s music has become rude and thoughtless in 2019. Spotify seems to agree.
Following Surviving R. Kelly, a breakout documentary that itemized harrowing sexual assault allegations against Kelly and captured America’s attention this month, Spotify is testing a block feature that will allow you to mute artists from your account’s ecosystem. The “don’t play this artist” feature is reportedly being tested in iOS apps and will let you mute an artist from the libraries, playlists, chart lists, and radio stations you use on Spotify.
According to the Verge, which tested it, the block feature won’t allow you to tune out songs that feature a blocked performer. (Like, say, “Do What U Want (With My Body)” by Lady Gaga featuring Kelly.)
The feature was reportedly considered and scrapped two years ago. Amid an ongoing conversation about separating art from artists, however, it’s apparently back. The timing is key, too, because Kelly’s music is reportedly surging in streaming thanks to the recent national attention.
Spotify briefly said it would delete Kelly’s music last year, but after backlash for the notion apparently prefers to leave that decision up to its users, as the Verge notes. The streaming giant also dragged its feet on a feature that would allow people to block users amid harassment last year. Kelly fans have likewise been harassing users on social media, mounting pressure for these gatekeepers of culture to step in and arbitrate the content.
No word on when the feature will go live, but we’ve reached out to Spotify for comment.
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H/T the Verge
