Spotify has declined to publicly comment on the Trump administration’s controversial immigration ban in the US, but the company has now joined the most prominent technology companies’ official lobbying efforts against the recent executive order.
More than 120 companies have filed an amicus brief [PDF] in the US Court of Appeals in San Francisco, including Apple, Facebook, Google, Snap, Microsoft, Uber and Tesla. Spotify USA is also on the list.
“Immigrants make many of the Nation’s greatest discoveries, and create some of the country’s most innovative and iconic companies,” claims the brief.
“America has long recognised the importance of protecting ourselves against those who would do us harm. But it has done so while maintaining our fundamental commitment to welcoming immigrants—through increased background checks and other controls on people seeking to enter our country.”
Spotify is the only pureplay streaming service listed in the brief, although besides the tech giants, other firms participating whose businesses touch our market include crowdfunding firms Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Patreon.
But music firms have been speaking out in other ways against the ban. Pandora CEO Tim Westergren wrote in an email to staff that “immigration is not only core to our strength as a nation, it is central to everything we do as a company… Diversity makes us stronger. And the world of music is made richer by it”.
Meanwhile, Bandcamp donated its share of sales on its platform last Friday to civil liberties body the ACLU. Fans bought more than $1m of music on Bandcamp that day, up 550% on a regular Friday.
“Last week’s Executive Order barring immigrants and refugees from seven Middle Eastern countries from entering the United States is not simply immoral, it violates the very spirit and foundation of America,” said CEO Ethan Diamond when he announced the plans.
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