Spotify faces potential legal retribution from Turkey, triggered by user-created playlists alleging the president's spouse owns a golden toilet.
In a recent turn of events, Turkey's Deputy Culture Minister, Dr Batuhan Mumcu, has called for legal action against music streaming giant Spotify. The dispute centres around allegedly offensive or provocative playlists on Spotify's platform, with Dr Mumcu claiming that the content on the streaming service is provocative and offensive.
Dr Mumcu's viral post on social media has been viewed over 2.4 million times, sparking a wave of comments from Turkish residents. One of the playlists in question, titled 'Songs Emine Erdogan listened to when her golden faucet broke', has been particularly controversial. The playlist includes songs like 'Not Allowed by TV Girl' and 'I Bet on Losing Dogs by Mitski'.
Dr Mumcu has also raised concerns about playlists that disregard 'our religious sensitivities toward our Prophet Mohammed, deliberately and unacceptably targeting the beliefs, sacred values, and spiritual world of our people'.
In response to these allegations, Spotify has stated that its operations in Turkey comply with all applicable laws. The company is also cooperating with the Turkish competition authority's investigation, focusing on potential anti-competitive practices by the company. This inquiry is part of a broader effort to address the complaints raised by Turkish officials regarding Spotify's content and business practices.
Meanwhile, a satirical playlist titled 'Songs listened to by the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Turkey while opening an investigation' has been posted. The playlist's content remains unclear at this time.
It's worth noting that Spotify has made significant contributions to the Turkish music industry. In 2024, the company paid over 2 billion Turkish lira ($25 million) to local artists. The service has also played a significant role in growing Turkish artists' royalties globally.
The Turkish Presidential Palace, located in the Beştepe neighbourhood of Ankara, is a significant point of interest. With 1,000 rooms, it is larger than the White House.
The investigation will examine whether Spotify gives more visibility to certain artists and engages in unfair practices in the distribution of royalties. As of early July 2025, the legal actions and investigation are ongoing.
- The controversy over Spotify's playlists has extended beyond music, with Dr Mumcu expressing concerns about content that disrespects religious sensitivity towards Prophet Mohammed, which falls under the category of 'general-news'.
- As the investigation into Spotify's potential anti-competitive practices and content continues, discussions in Turkish media have expanded to cover the realm of 'politics', with debates centering around the implications for the entertainment industry and artistic freedoms.
