Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Rogan Responds to Spotify Protest, COVID Advisories
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 3 years ago on
January 31, 2022

Share

 

Following protests of Spotify kicked off by Neil Young over the 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 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,” which has been criticized for spreading virus misinformation.

“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.”

Controversial Podcast Host Responds

Ek said that 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.”

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.

Other Artists Join Protest

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, on Sunday urged Spotify to tame 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 spokesperson 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, the 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,” wrote Lofgren in a statement.

On Friday, Joni Mitchell said she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young. Earlier, hundreds of scientists, professors and public health experts asked Spotify to remove a Dec. 31 episode from “The Joe Rogan Experience” in which he featured Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious-disease specialist who has been banned from Twitter for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Israeli Airstrike Kills at Least 20 People Including Children at a School in Central Gaza

DON'T MISS

US to Deploy Missile Defense System and About 100 Troops to Israel

DON'T MISS

Israeli Tanks Enter UN Peacekeeper Base in Lebanon, Drawing Protest

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Falls to Washington State in Fourth Quarter Heartbreaker

DON'T MISS

What’s Behind the Northern Lights That Dazzled the Sky Farther South Than Normal

DON'T MISS

Are Male Voters Reluctant to Vote for a Woman? Harris’ Backers Are Confronting the Question Head On

DON'T MISS

The Brutal Story Behind California’s New Native American Genocide Education Law

DON'T MISS

Feeling Stressed About the Election? Here’s What Some Are Doing and What They Say You Can Do Too

DON'T MISS

Black Voters Drift From Democrats, Imperiling Harris’ Bid, Poll Shows

DON'T MISS

Playful Pup Renny Leaves Street Life Behind, Awaits Adoption in Fresno

UP NEXT

US to Deploy Missile Defense System and About 100 Troops to Israel

UP NEXT

Israeli Tanks Enter UN Peacekeeper Base in Lebanon, Drawing Protest

UP NEXT

Fresno State Falls to Washington State in Fourth Quarter Heartbreaker

UP NEXT

What’s Behind the Northern Lights That Dazzled the Sky Farther South Than Normal

UP NEXT

Are Male Voters Reluctant to Vote for a Woman? Harris’ Backers Are Confronting the Question Head On

UP NEXT

Feeling Stressed About the Election? Here’s What Some Are Doing and What They Say You Can Do Too

UP NEXT

Black Voters Drift From Democrats, Imperiling Harris’ Bid, Poll Shows

UP NEXT

Playful Pup Renny Leaves Street Life Behind, Awaits Adoption in Fresno

UP NEXT

Another Top City Official Quits in Los Banos as Critical Election Looms

UP NEXT

Sanewashing? The Banality of Crazy? A Decade Into the Trump Era, Media Hasn’t Figured Him Out

Fresno State Falls to Washington State in Fourth Quarter Heartbreaker

13 hours ago

What’s Behind the Northern Lights That Dazzled the Sky Farther South Than Normal

15 hours ago

Are Male Voters Reluctant to Vote for a Woman? Harris’ Backers Are Confronting the Question Head On

16 hours ago

The Brutal Story Behind California’s New Native American Genocide Education Law

16 hours ago

Feeling Stressed About the Election? Here’s What Some Are Doing and What They Say You Can Do Too

16 hours ago

Black Voters Drift From Democrats, Imperiling Harris’ Bid, Poll Shows

1 day ago

Playful Pup Renny Leaves Street Life Behind, Awaits Adoption in Fresno

2 days ago

Another Top City Official Quits in Los Banos as Critical Election Looms

2 days ago

Madera County Farmland Conversion Program Begins With $10 Million in State Funds

2 days ago

Sanewashing? The Banality of Crazy? A Decade Into the Trump Era, Media Hasn’t Figured Him Out

2 days ago

Israeli Airstrike Kills at Least 20 People Including Children at a School in Central Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike has killed at least 20 people including children at a school-turned-shelter in central...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

Israeli Airstrike Kills at Least 20 People Including Children at a School in Central Gaza

8 hours ago

US to Deploy Missile Defense System and About 100 Troops to Israel

8 hours ago

Israeli Tanks Enter UN Peacekeeper Base in Lebanon, Drawing Protest

13 hours ago

Fresno State Falls to Washington State in Fourth Quarter Heartbreaker

15 hours ago

What’s Behind the Northern Lights That Dazzled the Sky Farther South Than Normal

16 hours ago

Are Male Voters Reluctant to Vote for a Woman? Harris’ Backers Are Confronting the Question Head On

16 hours ago

The Brutal Story Behind California’s New Native American Genocide Education Law

16 hours ago

Feeling Stressed About the Election? Here’s What Some Are Doing and What They Say You Can Do Too

Search

Send this to a friend