Why Did Spotify Remove Black Dresses?

Spotify has recently caused controversy by removing the music video for ‘Black Dresses’ by Canadian DJ duo DVBBS and singer-songwriter CMC$. The move has left many people scratching their heads as to why the streaming giant would take such a drastic step.

The video, which was released in April 2020, features a number of scantily clad women in black lingerie dancing around and interacting with the duo. This has led to some criticism that it is objectifying women or promoting a “toxic” lifestyle.

Spotify responded to these criticisms by stating: “We have reviewed ‘Black Dresses’ and have decided that it violates our explicit content policy. As such, we have removed the video from Spotify.”

The streaming service’s explicit content policy states that videos should not contain any “sexually explicit images or activities”. It also prohibits videos from displaying “nudity or implied nudity” as well as any activities that are “degrading or dehumanizing”.

It is clear that Spotify felt that the video for ‘Black Dresses’ crossed the line. The company’s decision to remove it has been met with both praise and criticism, with some arguing that it is a sign of progress in terms of tackling misogyny and objectification in popular culture while others argue that it is censorship and an attack on free speech.

Regardless of which side of the debate one falls on, there can be no denying that Spotify’s decision has sparked an important conversation about what is acceptable in music videos today. It remains to be seen if other streaming services will follow suit but this could potentially lead to a sea change in terms of what we see and hear when it comes to popular music.

Conclusion: Spotify removed ‘Black Dresses’ due to its explicit content policy which prohibits videos from displaying sexually explicit images or activities, nudity or implied nudity, as well as any activities which are deemed degrading or dehumanizing. The move has sparked an important debate about what is acceptable in music videos today, and whether other streaming services will follow suit.