Spotify is removing Neil Young songs after he complains of ‘misinformation’

Neil Younger wasn’t bluffing.

Spotify confirmed Wednesday that it has begun eradicating Younger’s music from the streaming service, two days after the star briefly posted a public letter calling on Spotify to decide on between him and Joe Rogan, the star podcast host who has been accused of spreading disinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines.

“We would like all of the world’s music and audio content material to be obtainable to Spotify customers,” Spotify mentioned in an announcement. “With that comes nice duty in balancing each security for listeners and freedom for creators. We have now detailed content material insurance policies in place and we’ve eliminated over 20,000 podcast episodes associated to COVID for the reason that begin of the pandemic. We remorse Neil’s choice to take away his music from Spotify, however hope to welcome him again quickly.”

Younger’s music was anticipated to be absolutely faraway from Spotify inside hours. The information that Spotify was eradicating Younger’s music was first reported by The Wall Avenue Journal.

In his letter, which Younger had addressed to his label, Warner Data, and his supervisor, he mentioned, “Spotify has a duty to mitigate the unfold of misinformation on its platform. I need you to let Spotify know instantly TODAY that I need all my music off their platform.”

He added: “They will have Rogan or Younger. Not each.”

The letter was faraway from Younger’s web site quickly after it was posted, though it drew huge information media consideration.

Rogan, whose present “The Joe Rogan Expertise” is the most well-liked podcast on Spotify, has come below hearth for an episode on Dec. 31 that featured Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious illness specialist.

This month, a whole bunch of scientists, professors and public well being specialists requested Spotify to take down the episode, which they mentioned promoted “a number of falsehoods about COVID-19 vaccines.”

Rogan, a comic and actor, signed an unique podcast take care of Spotify in 2020 that has been reported to be value $100 million, though Spotify has not confirmed that determine.

Spotify has not commented on Younger’s request, and a consultant of the corporate didn't instantly reply to a request for touch upon Wednesday. However Spotify has defended Rogan previously, together with after an episode that featured conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in 2020.

“We would like creators to create,” Daniel Ek, CEO and co-founder of Spotify, informed The Monetary Occasions then. “It’s what they do finest. We’re not seeking to play a job in what they need to say.”

Spotify has 318 million month-to-month listeners world wide, together with 172 million who pay for subscriptions, in accordance with the corporate’s most up-to-date monetary disclosures.