NEW YORK: Spotify on Thursday announced it would no longer feature R. Kelly songs in its playlists or user recommendations, after the Time’s Up movement for gender equality urged the music business to dump the R&B star over sexual abuse allegations.

The move marks the first application of Spotify’s new policy on “Hate Content & Hateful Conduct”, which states an artist’s behaviour may result in changes in how Spotify promotes their content.

“When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful (for example, violence against children and sexual violence), it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator,” a spokesperson for the Swedish streaming service said.

R. Kelly is accused of sexual abuse against young women and underage girls dating back over a decade, but he has never been convicted.

The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer and producer, who is 51, was charged with child pornography offenses in 2002, but acquitted in 2008.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2018