Since 2020, The Joe Rogan Experience has been signed exclusively to Spotify in a $100 million deal. The comedian and MMA commentator’s long-form conversations are incredibly popular all around the world, with an estimated 11 million listeners per episode making it the largest podcast in the world. However, the 54-year-old’s choice to platform certain guests with controversial views, including on COVID-19, has faced backlash.
In response, Neil Young has written an open letter addressed to his manager and record label, which was posted on his website and later taken down.
The 76-year-old said: “Please immediately inform Spotify that I am actively cancelling all my music availability on Spotify as soon as possible.
“I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them. Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule.”
“I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all of my music off their platform. They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.”
Young wrote his open letter to his manager Frank Gironda and Tom Corson, who is the co-chairman and COO of Warner Records, the label that releases the musician’s work through its Reprise Record impressment.
Gironda confirmed to The Daily Beast that the statement was real, saying: “It’s something that’s really important to Neil.
“He’s very upset about this disinformation. We’re trying to figure this out right now.”
The manager added that he wasn’t sure why the letter had been taken down from the website.
The open letter also called Rogan, who has over 6 million followers on Spotify, “a menace to public health” with “tremendous influence”.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Dr Katrine Wallace said of Malone: [His claims] are fringe ideas not backed in science.
“And having it on a huge platform makes it seem there are two sides to this issue.
“And there are really not. The overwhelming evidence is the vaccine works, and it is safe.”
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