Spotify is currently trialing a new feature aimed at providing users greater control over their listening experience. According to reports from The Verge, the streaming giant is testing a block function within the latest version of its iOS app.
The toggle would allow subscribers to prohibit songs from selected artists from playing across their library, personalized playlists, chart rankings, and radio stations hosted on the Spotify platform. This represents a reversal from the company’s original position in 2017, when it declined to introduce an artist blocking option after “serious consideration.”
The test of this preclude function suggests Spotify may have felt pressure to respond to growing demands from subscribers. In particular, advocacy campaigns like #MuteRKelly drew attention to longstanding abuse allegations against R. Kelly, which the artist has consistently denied.
Spotify took initial steps to distance itself from such controversies last year by removing R. Kelly and other problematic figures from curated playlists. However, rolling back a wider “hateful conduct” policy drew criticism over a lack of transparency around content guidelines.
More recently, R. Kelly’s label RCA cut professional ties as well. How and when Spotify plans to formally launch the blocking feature for all users remains unclear. A spokesperson for the company confirmed the test but did not provide further rollout details when contacted by The Independent. The move signals Spotify’s aim to balance creative expression with user choice online.
