Dispute over podcaster Joe Rogan
“Get out of this place before it eats your soul”: Neil Young takes on Spotify
Canadian rock star Neil Young
© Rebecca Cabage/Invision/DPA
Clear words from a music icon: Neil Young renewed his criticism of the Spotify streaming service in the controversy surrounding podcaster Joe Rogan – and called on the employees to quit.
In the dispute over podcaster Joe Rogan, rock legend Neil Young has called on the employees of the streaming portal Spotify to resign. “Get out of this place before it eats your soul,” the 76-year-old musician wrote on his website Monday night. He sharply criticized the head of the Swedish company, Daniel Ek.
“Ek is your big problem – not Joe Rogan. Ek pulls the strings,” wrote the Canadian singer of hits like “Heart of Gold” and “Harvest Moon”. “The only goals mentioned by Ek are about numbers – not art, not creativity”. Young also called on other musicians to “find a better place than Spotify as a home for your art”.
Controversy surrounding Joe Rogan’s Spotify podcast
In the dispute over the popular podcaster Rogan, who critics accuse of spreading misinformation about the corona pandemic, Young withdrew from Spotify in January. He had previously given the streaming service an ultimatum: “You can have Rogan or Young. Not both.” His former bandmates David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash as well as singer Joni Mitchell followed the music legend’s call for a boycott.
Singer India Arie also had her music removed from Spotify. As a reason, she cited statements made by Rogan on the subject of skin color.
Rogan’s “The Joe Rogan Experience” is the most listened to podcast on Spotify. The Swedish platform had secured the exclusive rights to the podcast in 2020 – according to media reports for 100 million dollars.
The comedian, actor and moderator has come under criticism because he has repeatedly invited prominent opponents of vaccination for his podcast. The 54-year-old also speaks out against corona vaccinations for children and young people.
Recently, Rogan had to apologize for repeatedly using the “N-word” in his podcast to racially insult black people. At the same time, he asserted that he had “never used the word to be racist because I’m not a racist”.
Spotify boss Ek has criticized Rogan’s use of the word – but sticks with the podcaster. “I don’t think the answer is to shut up Joe,” he recently wrote to Spotify staff.