The leaders of the “Death to Spotify” movement in Oakland are not veteran activists or music industry executives. They are Stephanie Dukich, who investigates police complaints, and Manasa Karthikeyan, an art gallery worker. Their motivation was simple: they are, in their own words, “really into sound,” and this passion drove them to become the accidental leaders of a burgeoning international movement.
Their story is a powerful example of how grassroots activism can emerge from personal passion. Dukich and Karthikeyan were simply participants in a reading group who felt compelled to do something about the issues they were discussing. They saw a problem in their community—the pervasive and problematic influence of Spotify—and decided to create a space to talk about it.
Their status as “non-musicians” is actually one of their greatest strengths. It demonstrates that the issues with Spotify are not just “artists’ problems”; they are concerns for anyone who cares deeply about music and culture. By centering the conversation on the listener’s “relationship to streaming,” they made the movement accessible and relevant to a broader audience.
This fan-led approach has given the movement an authentic and relatable voice. When Dukich and Karthikeyan talk about wanting to learn how to manage their music files together, it resonates with countless other listeners who feel a similar sense of unease but don’t know where to start. They are not experts dictating solutions, but community members facilitating a collective journey of discovery.
The success of their initiative proves that you don’t need a formal title or industry credentials to make a difference. All it takes is a genuine passion, a good idea, and the initiative to bring people together. The “Death to Spotify” movement was started not by rock stars, but by two people who are simply, and profoundly, “really into sound.”
