Neil Young to Spotify: Either remove my music or see you in court

26/1/2022 6:31

        Neil Young has threatened to
        pull his music from the Spotify streaming service in
        protest of its relationship with podcaster Joe Rogan, who the
        prolific singer-songwriter accuses of spreading misinformation
        about COVID-19, according to media reports on Tuesday.
        
        Young, who survived polio as a child, briefly posted a
        letter on his website addressed to his manager and his record
        label, Warner Music Group, demanding that Spotify no
        longer carry his music. The letter was later deleted.
        
        “I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I
        want all my music off their platform. ... They can have Rogan or
        Young. Not both," Young wrote in the letter, according to the
        Wall Street Journal.
        
        “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,” the
        newspaper quoted Young, 76, as writing.
        
        Rogan, 54, is the host of "The Joe Rogan Experience," the
        top-rated podcast on Spotify, which has exclusive rights to the
        program.
        
        As of Tuesday, Young's music, including such songs as “Heart
        Of Gold,” “Rocking In The Free World” and “Old Man," was still
        available on the service, as was Rogan's podcast.
        
        Spotify, Warner Music Group and "The Joe Rogan Experience"
        did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A
        representative for Young could not be reached.
        
        Rogan, who began his career as a stand-up comedian, has long
        stirred controversy with his views on the pandemic, government
        mandates and vaccines to control the spread of the coronavirus.
        He has questioned the need for COVID-19 vaccines on his show and
        said he used ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug that has no
        proven benefit against COVID.
        
        In the letter, Young singled out one episode in which a
        Rogan guest was pushing debunked anti vaccination theories, the
        Journal reported.
        
        Young's letter noted that Rogan's podcast draws 11 million
        listeners each episode and highlighted that Spotify lacks a
        misinformation policy, the newspaper said.
        
        Spotify began carrying Rogan's podcast in September as part
        of its efforts to transform itself into the Netflix of
        audio. Rogan maintains full creative control over the show.
        
        Earlier this month, 270 scientists and medical professionals
        signed an open letter to Spotify to take action against Rogan,
        accusing him of spreading falsehoods on the podcast.