Neil Young removed his music from Spotify in late January. The rock and folk mega star was motivated to do so after becoming aware of COVID misinformation broadcast on the The Joe Rogan Experience, a Spotify-exclusive podcast.
Joni Mitchell, India.Arie and Crosby, Stills and Nash followed Young’s lead, but Young wants more artists to give Spotify the flick. In a new blog post, headlined “I SAY“, he wrote:
“To the musicians and creators in the world, I say this: You must be able to find a better place than Spotify to be the home of your art.”
Young warned Spotify employees that the company’s billionaire CEO, Daniel Ek, is the real danger. “To the workers at Spotify, I say Daniel Ek is your big problem – not Joe Rogan,” wrote Young. “Ek pulls the strings. Get out of that place before it eats up your soul. The only goals stated by Ek are about numbers – not art, not creativity.”
Young learned of Rogan’s COVID misinformation after reading an open letter signed by a coalition of scientists, medical professionals, professors, and science communicators. The letter called out episode #1757 of Rogan’s podcast, which features a conversation with Dr. Robert Malone.
In his new blog post, Young pointed out Ek’s equivocation with regards to the concerns of scientists and medical professionals. “Notice that Ek never mentions the medical professionals who started this conversation,” he wrote. “Look, one last time – at the statements Ek has made. Then be free and take the good path.”
Young also instructed people to sever ties with businesses and institutions that contribute to the “mass fossil fuel destruction of Earth.
“For their continued funding of the fossil fuel damage even as the global temperature keeps climbing, I say take your money from the accounts of these American banks today:
“Chase; Citi; Bank of America; Wells Fargo.”
