This afternoon, Spotify announced it would remove Neil Young's music from their streaming service. Young had given Spotify an ultimatum of either removing The Joe Rogan Experience for spreading vaccine misinformation or cease playing his music.
Given how lucrative The Joe Rogan Experience is for Spotify, it is no surprise to me the platform bid Young adieu. Spotify didn't seem overly concerned about Young's departure with a spokesman quipping, "We regret Neil’s decision to remove his music from Spotify, but hope to welcome him back soon.”
In other words, Spotify doesn't think Young will be gone long due to the loss of streaming income and will make his way back. I suspect Spotify is underestimating Young's stubbornness.
In a letter released today by Young, he wrote, “I sincerely hope that other artists and record companies will move off the Spotify platform and stop supporting Spotify’s deadly misinformation about COVID.” As I argued yesterday, pretty much the only way Spotify would pay attention is if collective action were taken and that action affected Spotify's bottom line. But there is no indication and that any other recording artist or record company will take Young's stand.
So for the moment, misinformation equals money. Which means more resistance to COVID vaccines. There's no needle but the damage done.
No comments:
Post a Comment