Fans of folk-rock legends Neil Young, 76, and Joni Mitchell, 78, can no longer listen to their discographies on Spotify after the two artists announced their mutual desire to remove their music entirely from the streaming service.
Spotify, unlike many other platforms, doesn’t have a clear policy that prohibits COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, which prompted both musicians to distance their work from it.
Young first took to social media on January 24th and posted a now-deleted letter to his manager and label. Young wrote that he wanted his music pulled from the platform since it is also home to comedian Joe Rogan’s podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, which often features anti-vaccination commentary and controversial guests.
View this post on Instagram
“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,” wrote Young. “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,” he continued. “They can have [Joe] Rogan or Young. Not both.” Young was referring to the consistent misinformation about vaccines that Rogan has promoted on his podcast. Last month, 270 doctors, physicians, and science educators signed an open letter calling on Spotify to stop giving Rogan’s baseless claims about vaccines (and his encouraging of millions of young listeners to not get vaccinated) a platform.
Mitchell posted a statement to her website on January 28th, announcing that she would remove her music off Spotify, following in her longtime friend Young’s footsteps. “I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify,” wrote Mitchell. “Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue.” In solidarity with both artists, E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren also removed his music from the platform.
View this post on Instagram
Rogan, 54, uploaded a 10-minute video to his Instagram account on January 30th. He defended his vaccine-skeptic podcast guests and said that he supported Spotify using disclaimers ahead of his show’s controversial episodes.
Rogan also called himself a “fan” of Young and Mitchell (although he confused Mitchell with singer Rickie Lee Jones), acknowledged that he is “not a doctor or a scientist,” (obviously) and that he does “get things wrong.”
Health experts continue to denounce COVID-19 vaccine misinformation promoted by Rogan’s podcast. Most recently, a December 30th episode received massive online backlash, in which Rogan interviewed Twitter-banned virologist and prominent anti-vaxxer Dr. Robert Malone. (Malone has a history of comparing pandemic safety policies to the Holocaust and accusing public officials of ‘hypnotizing’ the public).
Young and Mitchell’s music can still be digitally streamed and purchased on Apple Music, Amazon Prime and Tidal, and free listening (with ads) is offered on YouTube. Young also allows fans access to his music via his ‘Archives’ service.
