Spotify to Launch New Feature Allowing Users to Mute and Block Artists

Soon, you'll be able to mute R. Kelly.

Spotify is launching a new feature that allows users to mute and block artists. The new update will essentially hide artists the user chooses from auto-playing on the streaming platform's automatically curated playlists like Discover Weekly, individual Daily Mixes, algorithm-generated playlists, and the global charts.

READ: Erykah Badu Tries to Clarify Her Controversial R. Kelly Comments

According to a report in Thurrot, Spotify has started testing out the highly-requested feature. The menu on an artist’s page will reportedly feature an option where users can click “Don’t play this artist” to stop their music from playing.

Once an artist is blocked, the user won’t be able to manually play their music without unblocking the artist. Blocking an artist does not, however, mute tracks they are featured on.

In 2017, Spotify had initially decided against rolling out a block/hide feature “after serious consideration.”

This year, Spotify came under pressure to offer a mute option as the conversation surrounding R. Kelly amplified following the release of Lifetime's revealing new docuseries, Surviving R. Kelly, which explored decades of allegations of sexual abuse by the singer and #MuteRKelly protests spread awareness. RCA Records also seemingly responded to public pressure by reportedly dropping R. Kelly from its label.

Spotify previously removed R. Kelly from its own curated playlists, but this did very little as the singers music was still available to stream on its service.

READ: Sony Is Parting Ways With R. Kelly Following 'Surviving R. Kelly' Docuseries Release

As for when the mute feature will be made widely available, Spotify has not yet released a date.

Source: Thurrot 

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