K-pop fans cancel their Spotify memberships after favourite songs disappear following dispute with South Korean distributor Kakao M

Spotify pulled some K-pop artists’ music from its platform after the licensing dispute with Kakao M, which runs the country’s biggest streaming platform, Melon

Many artists, like HyunA and Epik High, have been working to get their music back on the site, while many fans have taken to social media to protest the removal

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Spotify’s removal of music from some K-pop artists such as Mamamoo from its platform has outraged international K-pop fans. Photo: RBW

Published: 12:45pm, 2 Mar 2021Updated: 1:26pm, 2 Mar 2021

Fans of several popular K-pop groups and other South Korean artists have expressed outrage after many of their favourite tunes disappeared suddenly from Spotify on Sunday.

Music by K-pop outfits such as Mamamoo, HyunA and Monsta X, as well as popular Korean hip-hop and R&B artists, was pulled from the platform because of the streaming giant’s dispute with Kakao M (often known as KakaoM). The South Korean company distributes songs by many South Korean artists and also runs the country’s biggest streaming platform, Melon.

Spotify launched in South Korea on February 1 in a highly anticipated roll-out in the competitive streaming market, where Melon dominates and various other music streaming apps, including local ones as well as Apple Music, are already popular.

“Spotify can confirm that starting March 1, 2021, Kakao M’s catalogue will no longer be available to our listeners worldwide due to the expiration of our licence,” a spokesperson for the Swedish streaming service confirmed after fans discovered the music missing on February 28.

The music by K-pop outfits such as Monsta X was pulled from the platform. Photo: Starship Entertainment

Tablo, the frontman of Korean hip-hop trio Epik High, tweeted about the issue after midnight on Monday in South Korea.

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