Are you confused why Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Neil Young is beefing with comedian, UFC commentator, and podcast host Joe Rogan? Don’t worry, we got you. Last week, Neil Young gave Spotify (SPOT) an ultimatum: either remove his entire catalog of music or Joe Rogan’s podcast, which Young accuses of spreading dangerous misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccines.
Well, Spotify sided with The Joe Rogan Experience, which was the platform’s most streamed podcast globally in 2021. Young’s discography was pulled last Wednesday along with Joni Mitchell’s and Nils Lofgren’s, who both stood in solidarity with Young.
Unsurprisingly, the drama has sparked outrage and debate over topics such as freedom of speech, censorship, science, and misinformation. Desperate to strike some sort of compromise to the situation, Spotify announced Sunday it will be adding a “content advisory” warning to any podcast that features discussion about Covid-19.
Why it matters
Spotify's compromise to the Young-Rogan drama has drawn accusations of censorship and raised the issue of content monitoring. In response, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said that while there are "plenty of individuals and views on Spotify that I disagree with strongly", it is important to him that Spotify doesn't "take on the position of being a content censor.”
