The Joe Rogan-Neil Young drama isn’t the first time Spotify has been in a fight
Neil Young vs. Joe Rogan isn’t the first fight for Spotify. Since the company’s introduction in the U.S., it landed in headlines because of superstar artists’ vocal discontent with payment and customers’ concerns about privacy, among other things. But the No. 1 music streaming platform shows no signs of slowing after the latest kerfuffle, as Young and other artists withdraw their music in protest of what they say is COVID-19 misinformation spread by top podcaster Rogan. Below, you’ll find more coverage of Spotify’s past dustups. — Dawn M. Burkes
- 1
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told employees Wednesday that the company is a platform for Joe Rogan, not Rogan’s publisher, setting a lower bar for content moderation.
Feb. 2, 2022
- 2
Qobuz and Tidal received a subscriber boost with Neil Young pulling music off Spotify in protest of misinformation on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Feb. 1, 2022
- 3
Graham Nash and India Arie are removing their music from Spotify after Neil Young left the platform because of COVID disinformation and Joe Rogan.
Feb. 1, 2022
- 4
So far, the response to Neil Young’s call to pull music from Spotify has been largely muted among recording artists.
Feb. 1, 2022
- 5
Key people associated with Spotify exclusive podcast ‘Science Vs’ have refused to do more podcasts until Spotify changes the way it handles misinformation.
Jan. 31, 2022
- 6
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek responded to Neil Young and others removing their music from the platform over COVID-19 misinformation spread on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast.
Jan. 30, 2022
- 7
Rogan has been the center of a firestorm of controversy surrounding how Spotify manages misinformation about COVID-19 on its audio platform.
Jan. 30, 2022
- 8
Spotify paid millions to lure Joe Rogan but now faces pressure from more than 200 doctors to hold him to account for spreading misinformation about COVID vaccines on his podcast.
Jan. 26, 2022
- 9
Neil Young penned — and then deleted — an open letter criticizing Spotify and Joe Rogan for ‘spreading false information’ about COVID-19 vaccines.
Jan. 25, 2022
- 10
Joni Mitchell, longtime friend of Neil Young, has asked to have her music removed from Spotify, in protest of podcaster Joe Rogan’s anti-vaccine misinformation.
Jan. 28, 2022
- 11
Ava DuVernay, Joni Mitchell and India Arie have abandoned Spotify in the wake of Neil Young’s protest against the streaming platform and podcast host Joe Rogan.
Feb. 17, 2022
- 12
Spotify Chief Executive Daniel Ek has a message for users angry over its new privacy policy: “Sorry.”
Aug. 22, 2015
- 13
- 14
Another songwriter has sued streaming music service Spotify -- accusing the company of “wholesale copyright infringement” -- in an escalation of the ongoing battle over online royalties and licensing.
Jan. 8, 2016
- 15
Jimmy Buffett, the hoary South Florida singer-songwriter, put the chief executive of music streaming service Spotify on the spot Wednesday, demanding more money for musicians.
Oct. 8, 2014
- 16
Spotify dominates music streaming but its payment rate to artists continues to generate controversy. Will recent musician-led protests bring about change?
April 19, 2021
- 17
Podcaster Joe Budden’s exclusive contract with Spotify is ending, and he’s expressed concerns over how he has been compensated.
Aug. 27, 2020
- 18
A Spotify executive this week seemed to defend the appearance of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on its platform, after removing the Infowars founder’s content in 2018.
Oct. 28, 2020
- 19
Taylor Swift’s latest hit, “Shake It Off,” was written as a message encouraging listeners to ignore trend-conscious bullies, but it’s now also the message she has effectively sent to Spotify.
Nov. 4, 2014