Tag: neil young
Spotify Removes 70-Plus Joe Rogan Episodes — But Not Over COVID-19 Issues

Spotify Removes 70-Plus Joe Rogan Episodes — But Not Over COVID-19 Issues

Spotify has opted to remove 70 podcast episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience from the platform's archive.

While the deletion comes amid controversy Rogan has faced for his spread of misinformation on COVID-19, Consequence.net, reports that the now-deleted episodes date back to 2019 and are unrelated to what initially caused the problem.T

he discovery of the latest podcast episodes in question has opened the door to even more criticism of Rogan as they contain repeated use of the N-word. Earlier this week, soul singer India.Arie took to social media to raise awareness about the episodes as she announced she'd be pulling her music from the platform over Rogan being allowed to use the N-word in multiple podcast episodes.

"He shouldn’t even be uttering the word. Don’t even say it, under any context. Don’t say it. That’s where I stand. I have always stood there,” said Arie as she condemned Rogan’s “language around race.”

Although Spotify has taken the initiative to remove some of his podcast episodes, there are still deep concerns about him still being allowed to spread misinformation about COVID-19 with his continued use of the platform. The podcast episodes that initially sparked controversy also remain on the platform.

However, in wake of the latest controversy, Rogan has responded.

On Saturday, February 5, Rogan addressed the removal of his podcast episodes over his use of the N-word and issued a statement of apology for his remarks. “It’s a very unusual word, but it’s not my word to use,” Rogan said. “I’m well aware of that now, but for years I used it in that manner. I never used it to be racist, ’cause I’m not racist.’ But whenever you’re in a situation where you have to say ‘I’m not racist,’ you fucked up, and I clearly have fucked up.”

Spotify Will Link Podcast Content To Covid Facts After Rogan Dispute

Spotify Will Link Podcast Content To Covid Facts After Rogan Dispute

Stockholm (AFP) - Music streaming giant Spotify announced Sunday that it would start guiding listeners of podcasts discussing Covid-19 to more information about the pandemic, following a row that saw artist Neil Young remove his music from the platform.

The move comes after artists, spearheaded by Neil Young, earlier this week demanded the streaming service remove their music or drop podcaster Joe Rogan after a call from medical professionals to prevent Rogan from promoting "several falsehoods about Covid-19 vaccines."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also flagged concerns over misinformation on Spotify's platform, but reiterated their commitment to continue using it to publish their content.

"We are working to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about Covid-19," Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said in a statement.

"This advisory will direct listeners to our dedicated Covid-19 Hub, a resource that provides easy access to data-driven facts, up-to-date information as shared by scientists, physicians, academics and public health authorities around the world, as well as links to trusted sources," Ek said.

The "new effort to combat misinformation" would roll out in the next few days, he added.

Rogan, 54, has discouraged vaccination in young people and promoted the off-label use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat the virus.

$100 million Deal

The podcaster, who has a $100-million (90 million euros) multi-year exclusive deal with Spotify, was kept on, and Spotify complied with Young's demand and started removing his catalogue of songs.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex raised concerns over misinformation on the platform, but said they were "committed to continuing" their lucrative content deal despite "concerns".

"We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis," said a spokesperson for Archewell, the Duke and Duchess' organisation, in a statement.

"We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does."

Spotify voiced "regret" over Young's move but cited a need to balance "both safety for listeners and freedom for creators".

Spotify's move drew applause online from organizations including video-streaming platform Rumble, which credited the Swedish company with "defending creators" and standing "up for free speech".

But Young, 76, also garnered wide praise for taking a stand, including from the World Health Organization chief.

The musician also urged fellow artists to follow his lead, and calls for boycotts and cancelled subscriptions flourished on social media.

"Based on the feedback over the last several weeks, it's become clear to me that we have an obligation to do more to provide balance and access to widely-accepted information from the medical and scientific communities guiding us through this unprecedented time," Ek said.

In addition, Ek said the company would publish its "Platform Rules", which include guidelines for creators on what Spotify labels "dangerous" and "deceptive" content.

In recent years, online media titans including Facebook and YouTube have come under fire for allowing conspiracy theorists to spread their views.

But despite its explosive growth, podcasting has largely flown under the radar.

Joni Mitchell Announces She Will Dump Spotify Over Covid 'Lies'

Joni Mitchell Announces She Will Dump Spotify Over Covid 'Lies'

Los Angeles (AFP) - Singer Joni Mitchell said Friday she was pulling her music from Spotify over "lies" on the streaming service about Covid-19, just days after fellow musical titan Neil Young did the same.

In a post on her website, the "Big Yellow Taxi" singer said she was supporting Young, who clashed with Spotify over its wildly popular "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast.

"I've decided to remove all my music from Spotify," Mitchell wrote.

"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."

Mitchell's website also carried a copy of an open letter to Spotify by medics and other scientists calling on the company to establish a misinformation policy to combat Rogan's repeated falsehoods and conspiracy theories around the coronavirus pandemic.

There was no immediate comment from Spotify.

Young, the voice behind "Heart of Gold" and "Harvest Moon," yanked his music from Spotify this week after telling the service it had to choose between him and Rogan.

He accused Spotify of "spreading fake information about vaccines -- potentially causing death" by putting out Rogan's podcast, which racks up millions of listens.

"Spotify has become the home of life threatening COVID misinformation," he wrote. "Lies being sold for money."

"I realized I could not continue to support Spotify's life threatening misinformation to the music loving public."

Young had over six million monthly listeners on the popular streaming platform. His fellow Canadian Mitchell currently has 3.7 million.

Rogan has a multi-year exclusive deal with Spotify, reportedly worth $100 million, and a massive following.

Critics say his podcast is a platform for conspiracy theories and disinformation, particularly over Covid-19.

Rogan has discouraged vaccination in young people and promoted the off-label use of the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat the virus.

In a statement this week, Spotify said: "We want all the world's music and audio content to be available to Spotify users.

"With that comes great responsibility in balancing both safety for listeners and freedom for creators. We have detailed content policies in place and we've removed over 20,000 podcast episodes related to Covid since the start of the pandemic."

"We regret Neil's decision to remove his music from Spotify," the service said, "but hope to welcome him back soon."

Musicians To Republicans: I Don’t Sing For You

Musicians To Republicans: I Don’t Sing For You

Donald Trump announced his presidency, and his intention to make the country great again, to the soaring sound of Neil Young’s 1989 hit, “Rockin’ in the Free World.” Which makes sense for a presidential rally, since it is a song about freedom. (It was even from an album titled… Freedom.)

But Neil Young was furious.

Young, who had publicly announced his support for Bernie Sanders, released a statement through his manager that said Trump was not authorized to play the song.

Trump’s spokespeople disagreed. According to Rolling Stone, Trump’s campaign “paid for and obtained the legal right to use” the recording at the event through ASCAP, a performing rights organization that represents over 525,000 songwriters and composers, and added that “Mr. Trump is a huge fan of Neil Young and his music and will continue to be regardless of Neil’s political views.”

However, that doesn’t mean that Trump is in the clear – nor are any politicians whose love for a particular musician goes unreturned by an artist who doesn’t care for their political views. (Spare a thought for poor Chris Christie, whose unrequited love for and constant rejection by New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen borders on legendary.)

ASCAP says that an artist has the legal right to stop a candidate from using a song even if the campaign has secured the appropriate licenses.

“False endorsement” is a real thing and campaigns can be sued for it, as well as the “right to publicity,” which provides image protection for artists.

Other Republicans who have recently been told to get their hands off the music are Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, who appropriated The Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” for an appearance in Iowa in January, leading to this memorable tweet:

In 2008, Sarah Palin tried to burnish her image as a “barracuda” — a nickname dating from high school — by appropriating Heart’s 1977 hit of the same name, but Ann and Nancy Wilson, the band’s core members, were appalled that their “scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business” was used against their wishes. And to top it off, the Republican campaign didn’t even ask if they could use it.

That same year, John McCain was told by several artists, including Jackson Browne, the Foo Fighters, Van Halen, and John Mellencamp, to cut it out. Mellencamp’s letter to the McCain campaign even pointed out that his songs specifically ran contrary to McCain’s philosophies: “Why are you playing songs that have a very populist pro-labor message written by a guy who would find no argument if you characterized him as left of center?”

Democrats have had their share of kerfluffles, but they generally receive much less ire. Sam Moore asked Barack Obama’s campaign to stop using his song “Hold On” and Cyndi Lauper didn’t want her “True Colors” to be used in an attack ad against Mitt Romney.

But at least one candidate is winning this round – Hillary Clinton, who released a playlist earlier this week and hasn’t yet received any blowback from the artists on it. In fact, Katy Perry offered to pen a tune directly for Clinton – but there was no need.

Photo: Neil Young, proud Canadian, Bernie Sanders fan and big-time rocker, would rather Donald Trump not use his music for his campaign. Kris Krug via Flickr