From Frustration to Action: Inside Oakland’s “Death to Spotify” Community Talks

What happens when widespread frustration with the digital world moves offline and into a community space? In Oakland, California, it looks like “Death to Spotify,” a series of sold-out talks at a local library that transformed abstract anger about music streaming into a concrete plan for action.
The event was the brainchild of Stephanie Dukich and Manasa Karthikeyan, two friends who were not musicians but were deeply invested in sound and digital culture. Inspired by the growing chorus of criticism against Spotify, they decided to move the conversation from social media feeds into a face-to-face setting. “We thought it would be great to talk about our relationship to streaming,” Dukich said, emphasizing the need for a collective learning process.
The talks brought together key figures from the local indie music scene, including representatives from KEXP radio and Dandy Boy Records. The goal was practical: to explore “what it means to decentralize music discovery” and to equip attendees with the knowledge to “actually take our files off and learn how to do that together.” It was a workshop for digital liberation.
The response was overwhelming, indicating a deep-seated desire for alternatives. The local events sold out quickly, and soon, emails were pouring in from as far away as Spain and India from people wanting to host similar gatherings. This grassroots initiative had clearly tapped into a universal sentiment, proving that the discontent was not limited to a niche group of artists.
The success of “Death to Spotify” lies in its community-first approach. By creating a physical space for shared learning and strategy, the organizers built a foundation for a sustainable movement. It showed that the most powerful way to challenge a digital monopoly might just be to start talking to your neighbors about it in the local library.