Joni Mitchell has publicly supported Neil Young by also removing her music catalog from Spotify in protest of Joe Rogan spreading misinformation about vaccines on the platform.
In case you missed the drama, earlier this week Neil Young sparked conversations about Spotify and its complacency about spreading misinformation about vaccines.
To counteract this, Young announced that he would be removing his music from the platform. In his letter of intent, he specifically mentions Joe Rogan and his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.
“You can have [Joe] Rogan or Young. Not both," the singer wrote.
Rogan's podcast has regularly come under fire for constantly doubting the vaccine and openly encouraging young fans not to take the vaccine.
In 2020, the podcast inked an exclusive deal with Spotify worth $100 million.
"I realized I couldn't continue to support Spotify's life-threatening misinformation to the music-loving public," Young wrote.
"Before telling my friends at Warner Bros of my desire to leave the Spotify platform, I was reminded by my own legal powers that I did not have contractual control over my music to do so. I announced that I will go anyway because I knew it was me.”
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"I was willing to do whatever I could and more just to make sure that happened. I would like to thank my truly amazing and supportive record company Warner Brothers – Reprise Records for supporting me in my decision to get all my music off Spotify. Thanks very much!"
Now fellow artists – including Joni Mitchell – have backed Young's decision.
In her statement today, Mitchell referenced both Young's letter and the petition, which was published and supported by 270 scientists, professors and medical professionals who shared an open letter with Spotify on New Year's Eve urging the streaming giant to implement a policy of misinformation.
"I have decided to remove all of my music from Spotify," the "Help Me" singer wrote.
“Irresponsible people spread lies that cost people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this matter.”
Spotify said in a statement Wednesday regarding Young's ultimatum, "We want all the music and audio content in the world to be available to Spotify users. With that comes a great responsibility to strike a balance between safety for listeners and freedom for creators. We have detailed content policies in place and have removed over 20,000 Covid-related podcast episodes since the pandemic began.”
"We regret Neil's decision to remove his music from Spotify," the service added, "but hope to welcome him back soon."
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