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Rock icon Neil Young wants his music removed from Spotify, citing the spread of COVID-19 vaccine disinformation on the platform — and calling out popular podcaster Joe Rogan in particular.
In an open letter to his management and record label, first reported by Rolling Stone on Monday, Young said Spotify Technology SA
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can have “Rogan or Young. Not both.”
“I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines — potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them,” Young wrote. “Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule.”
““I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform.””
Rogan’s podcast was Spotify’s most popular worldwide in 2021, despite criticism that it spreads COVID misinformation and conspiracy theories, and gives a platform to far-right figures.
Last month, a group of 270 figures from the medical and scientific community decried Rogan’s show and called on Spotify to institute a misinformation policy.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Rogan has repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine,” they wrote in an open letter. “This is not only a scientific or medical concern; it is a sociological issue of devastating proportions and Spotify is responsible for allowing this activity to thrive on its platform.”
Young took his music off Spotify once before, in 2015, when he complained about the sound quality of the streaming-music service and switched to Tidal. He returned his catalog to Spotify, Apple
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Music and other services in 2016.
Spotify shares are down 17% so far in January, and have tumbled 42% over the past 12 months.
