Joe Rogan Speaks Out After Neil Young Sparks Spotify Controversy: 'I'm Interested in Finding Out What the Truth Is'
Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the supposed spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, the music streaming service said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing the virus.
In a post on Sunday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek laid out more transparent platform rules given the backlash stirred by Young, who on Wednesday had his music removed from Spotify after the tech giant declined to get rid of episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” that some claim spread misinformation about the virus.
“Personally, there are plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly,” wrote Ek. “It is important to me that we don’t take on the position of being content censor while also making sure that there are rules in place and consequences for those who violate them.”
Ek said the advisories will link to Spotify’s fact-based COVID-19 hub in what he described as a “new effort to combat misinformation.” It will roll out in the coming days, Ek said. He did not specifically reference Rogan or Young.
Rogan responded to the fallout on Sunday, saying in a video on Instagram that he was only seeking to have conversations on his podcast with people who have “differing opinions.”
“I’m not trying to promote misinformation, I’m not trying to be controversial,” Rogan said. “I’ve never tried to do anything with this podcast other than to just talk to people.”
“‘I’m interested in finding out what the truth is,” he explained.
Rogan said he didn’t like the term “misinformation” because “many of the things that we thought of as misinformation just a short while ago are now accepted as fact.”
He also said that he schedules the guests on his podcast himself and that he would try to book doctors with different opinions right after he talks to “the controversial ones.”
Rogan noted that he earlier sat down on the show with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the chief medical correspondent for CNN; Dr. Michael Osterholm, who is a member of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board; and Dr. Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine.
Rogan additionally welcomed the idea of adding advisories before podcasts related to COVID-19.
“Sure, have that on there. I’m very happy with that,” he said.
Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who have signed a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio, urged Spotify on Sunday to address supposed virus misinformation.
“Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform,” an Archewell representative said in a statement. “We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis. We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.”
Earlier Sunday, Nils Lofgren, a Bruce Springsteen guitarist and a member of Crazy Horse, a frequent collaborator with Young, said he was joining Young’s Spotify revolt. Lofgren said he had already had the last 27 years of his music removed and requested labels with his earlier music to do likewise.
“We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere to stand with us and cut ties with Spotify,” Lofgren said in a statement.
On Friday, Joni Mitchell said she is also seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young.
Earlier, a variety of activists had asked Spotify to remove a Dec. 31 episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” in which he featured Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious-disease specialist who has been banned from Twitter for supposedly spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
