Doruksen’s Music Removed From Spotify and YouTube After DistroKid Decision

In an unexpected move, several releases by rising techno artist Doruksen, including his well-known track “Intoxicated”, were removed from streaming platforms after being rejected by DistroKid under what the distributor calls “editorial discretion".

The removal came without warning and without a clear explanation, leaving both fans and the artist confused about what triggered the decision.

Doruksen received the following message from DistroKid:

“We’ve been notified by stores and streaming services that one or more of your releases has been rejected due to editorial discretion. Stores are no longer accepting releases from you via DistroKid. Unfortunately, DistroKid is unable to assist with reversing this, and many DistroKid features have been restricted.”

The distributor also clarified that it had no additional information, stating that it was merely passing along the decision from streaming platforms.

Doruksen shared the issue publicly through a video on Instagram, which quickly gained attention across the techno community. Many artists reacted, reshared it, and expressed frustration - both for the takedown itself and because DistroKid didn’t provide any clear explanation beyond the generic “editorial discretion” message. The lack of transparency has become a major talking point across the scene.

So Why Do These Takedowns Happen?

Streaming platforms occasionally remove music for a variety of reasons.

To be clear: Doruksen has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and no specific reason was provided for his case.

However, in general, releases can be pulled for reasons such as:

• Metadata inconsistencies

• Incorrect credits

• Repetitive content flagged by automated systems

• Conflicts between distributors

• Platform-side suspicion of inauthentic streaming activity (even if unintentional)

• Issues with artwork or rights management

• Editorial decisions that are not publicly explained

Platforms rarely provide granular explanations - something many artists in the industry have criticized for years.

A Growing Issue in the Music World

Doruksen’s situation highlights a broader industry challenge: Artists often have limited visibility into decisions that affect their catalog, income, and audience.

Distributors can pass along a store’s decision, but they typically cannot reverse it or obtain further detail.

This lack of transparency has become a point of frustration for many producers, especially those in fast-moving underground genres like techno, hard techno, and rave music.

What’s Next for Doruksen?

Since DistroKid stated that “stores are no longer accepting releases via DistroKid”, Doruksen will need to re-upload future music through another distributor. His existing catalog remains available on Spotify and other platforms where it was not affected.

Fans can continue listening to his music on:

• Spotify

• YouTube

• Other streaming platforms where his catalog is still active

Only some releases were removed, while many of his tracks are still online and fully accessible.

And of course, you can find his artist page on Techno Music World.

There is currently no confirmed reason from DistroKid or any streaming platform for why these specific releases were removed. Any explanations in this article also refer to general industry practices.