Cory Bernardi’s Australia Day playlist still live despite being “removed” by Spotify

It’s been awild and woolly24 hours for Cory Bernardi and the Australian conservatives, with recent developments seeing his Australia Day playlist banned from Spotify before re-emerging on the platform without a name.

Bernardi and his offshoot political party the Australian Conservatives came up with their own response to triple j’s decision to change the date of the Hottest 100 away from January 26, by creating their own playlist of all-Aussie music, and imploring supporters to vote for their favourite song on it.

The movestruck a nerve with several of the featured artists, including Darren Hayes and Christine Anu, who all spoke out against being included in the playlist yesterday, with Hayes even threatening legal action against Bernardi.

Overnight news emerged that the playlist had been removed by Spotify, with the Australian Conservatives Facebook page uploading a screenshot of an email sent from Spotify explaining the removal.

“We’ve received notice that your uploaded content has been reported as including inappropriate or offensive content. We’ve removed it from Spotify,”the email read.

This morning a spokesperson for the Spotify gave a statement to 2GB, as pointed out byNews Corp.

“Spotify has actively supported marriage, gender and indigenous equality initiatives over the last five years, and believes in a diverse and multicultural Australia,” said the spokesperson.

“We want to make clear we do not endorse this playlist, nor do we have any official ties to the Australian Conservatives party nor any other political party.

“Finally, I would like to remind any political party who seek to use the work of others for political gain or messaging, to read the terms and conditions on Spotify that relate specifically to this situation.”

In an interview withSky News last night, Bernardi called those opposing the playlist “narcissistic moralisers.”

“I don’t know if it [the playlist] has been removed yet, but I’ve got a backup on another account,” he said.

“So we can continue to promote Australian music and tell the people who want to tell us what to like, what to listen to, what we can support and what to think, where to do.”

TMN has still been able to access the playlist on the Australian Conservatives Spotify account at the time of writing, although the playlist name appears to have been removed.

It is unclear whether the playlist is Bernardi’s “backup” or whether the original was never removed.

TMNhas reached out to Spotify for comment.

The playlist is currently available here.

Several other musicians have followed Darren Hayes and Christine Anu’s lead since the playlist was first published and spoken out against their inclusion.

“Remove my music from this stunt or expect contact from my publisher @SonyATV,” Hayes said.

“Go fuck yourself @corybernardi,”tweeted Hilltop Hoods.

“Why would you listen to anything @coreybernardi says, especially about music?”addedJimmy Barnes.

Spiderbaitalso made their feelings perfectly clear. “CORY BERNARDI: Don’t use spiderbait songs to sell your shitty anti-ABC, anti-abortion, anti-marriage equality and climate change ideas. F&ck off Cory Bernardi and your stupid fake political party,” they said on Facebook.

Other musicians to voice their displeasure at the playlist includePowderfinger, Bob Evans, Urthboy, Mick Thomas and Men At Work’sColin Hay.