Photo Credit: Amy GranthamGraham Nash and India Arie are joining Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in removing their music from Spotify.
Graham Nash states that he is removing his music to support his former bandmate Neil Young in protest over COVID-19 misinformation. “Having heard the COVID disinformation spread by Joe Rogan on Spotify, I completely agree with and support my friend Neil Young, and I am requesting that my solo recordings be removed from the service,” Nash’s statement reads.
“There is a difference between being open to varying viewpoints on a matter and knowingly spreading false information which some 270 medical professionals have derided as not only false but dangerous. The opinions publicized by Rogan are so dishonest and unsupported by solid facts that Spotify becomes an enabler in a way that costs people their lives.”
Meanwhile on Instagram, India Arie announced that she has also decided to pull her music and podcast from Spotify. “I have decided to pull my music and podcast from Spotify. Neil Young opened a door that I must walk through,” Arie says. “I believe in freedom of speech. However, I find Joe Rogan problematic for reasons OTHER than his COVID interviews,” the singer states.
“For me, it is also his language around race. What I am talking about is respect, who gets it and who doesn’t,” Arie adds. Rogan is not shy about using the n-word on his podcast and has previously made remarks that have been criticized for being racist. Arie also addressed the fact that Spotify pays fractions of pennies to artists for their streams.
She calls out Spotify for “paying musicians a fraction of a penny and [Rogan] $100 million,” addressing his exclusivity deal with Spotify. In 2020, Spotify struck a multi-year exclusivity deal for The Joe Rogan Experience, estimated to be worth $100 million. “This shows the type of company they are and the company that they keep. I’m tired,” Arie concludes.
Neither Joe Rogan nor Spotify has responded to the latest removals. Joe Rogan directly addressed the controversy this week, saying he respects Young and his music while offering to bring on more opposing views. Spotify is also appending COVID-19 resources to any podcast that speaks on the subject.
