Claim:
In mid-September 2026, music streaming company Spotify removed the music of Ed Sheeran from its platform.
Rating:
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<p dir="ltr"><span>A rumor began circulating in mid-September 2026 alleging that Spotify had purged Ed Sheeran's catalog from its library. The fabricated story claimed this action was taken in response to musician Macklemore being dropped as an opening act from Sheeran's tour following Macklemore's on-stage expressions of support for the Palestinian cause.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>As an illustration, an </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DdWnI4ux96K/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ=="><span>Instagram post</span></a><span> published on Sept. 16 asserted: "Spotify has removed Ed Sheerans songs from the platform. Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour after making pro-Palestinian statements onstage. Several venues reportedly objected to keeping him on the lineup" (</span><a href="https://perma.cc/DAC4-4ZCC?type=image"><span>archived</span></a><span>):</span></p>
<img class="img-lg" src="https://mediaproxy.snopes.com/width/600?url=https://media.snopes.com/2026/09/did_spotify_remove_ed_sheeran.png" alt=""/>
<p><strong>(Instagram user ragebaitnews)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Because some social media users accepted the narrative at face value—believing Spotify truly retaliated over the tour lineup change—readers turned to fact-checking resources to verify whether the story held any truth.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>To investigate the claim, investigators initially ran queries across major search engines like </span><a href="https://perma.cc/Q7AV-DG2K?type=image"><span>DuckDuckGo</span></a><span>, </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=spotify+removes+ed+sheeran+songs&sca_esv=40a79c977c37d534&sxsrf=APpeQnsHLLKvPYc8o9jmv9Xy1MCShyK9-w%3A1789753368614&source=hp&ei=GHitapqiI42Gp84Prv3lkAU&iflsig=ABILxe8AAAAAaq2GKFNssEXTQi7g55PawW7gXjC4sGeU&ved=0ahUKEwiajpTu1viWAxUNw8kDHa5-GVIQ4dUDCC0&uact=5&oq=spotify+removes+ed+sheeran+songs&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IiBzcG90aWZ5IHJlbW92ZXMgZWQgc2hlZXJhbiBzb25nczIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKsCMgUQIRirAjIFECEYnwVI6CtQAFiPK3AAeACQAQCYAWqgAdYRqgEEMzEuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCHKACrg_CAg4QABiABBiKBRixAxiDAcICDhAuGIAEGIoFGLEDGIMBwgIIEAAYgAQYtAfCAhEQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARjRA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAgUQLhiABMICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgIFEAAYgATCAgsQLhiABBjHARjRA8ICERAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGK8BGI4FwgIIEC4YgAQYsQPCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIHEAAYgAQYCsICBhAAGBYYHpgDAJIHBDI3LjGgB5TIAbIHBDI3LjG4B64PwgcHMTAuMTcuMcgHJIAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz"><span>Google</span></a><span>, and </span><a href="https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=spotify+removes+ed+sheeran%27s+music&fr=yfp-t&fr2=p%3Afp%2Cm%3Asb&fp=1"><span>Yahoo</span></a><span>. Had Spotify genuinely pulled Sheeran's entire discography, mainstream news organizations such as Reuters and The Associated Press would have covered it extensively, leaving a clear digital trail. No such reports existed.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Tracing the origin of the rumor led to an </span><a href="https://x.com/HoopsCrave"><span>X account</span></a><span> that explicitly classifies its output under "parody & satire."</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The post was </span><a href="https://x.com/HoopsCrave/status/2099567027820081469"><span>first launched by Hoops Crave on Sept. 14</span></a><span> (</span><a href="https://perma.cc/3USC-N9XF"><span>archived</span></a><span>). The account's profile </span><a href="https://x.com/HoopsCrave"><span>bio</span></a><span> clearly states: "Parody & Satire Entertainment | Not real news."</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Inquiries were sent to Hoops Crave regarding the widespread confusion caused by the satirical post, alongside requests for comment directed at representatives for Sheeran and Spotify. Updates will be provided if any statements are received.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>This is not the first instance of satirical content being mistaken for factual reporting; a similar case occurred in August 2026 involving a fabricated story about </span><a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/disney-buy-dollywood-false/"><span>Disney acquiring Dollywood</span></a><span>.</span></p>
<p><i>Because <a href="https://www.snopes.com/notes/snopes-satire-parody/">satire remains subjective</a>, labels such as <span>"</span><a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/rating/originated_as_satire/"><span>originated as satire</span></a><span>" or "</span><a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/rating/labeled_satire/"><span>labeled satire</span></a><span>"</span> are applied based on how creators designate their own material. Readers are free to form their own conclusions.</i></p>