January 1, Spotify Removes Neil Young’s Music After ‘Fake’ COVID-19 Information Ultimatum

Famed rock musician Neil Young gave Spotify an ultimatum: they can either have his music or Joe Rogan’s podcast. Young wrote a letter to the streaming platform’s management team earlier this week, citing the podcaster’s “fake information” on COVID-19 vaccines.

“I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform. They can have [Joe] Rogan or Young. Not both,” Young wrote.

“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.”

Spotify sided with Rogan, whose show, The Joe Rogan Experience, boasts an estimated 11 million listeners per episode.

“We want all the world’s music and audio content to be available to Spotify users. With that comes great responsibility in balancing both safety for listeners and freedom for creators,” a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement.

“We regret Neil’s decision to remove his music from Spotify, but hope to welcome him back soon.”

Sen. Rand Paul celebrated Spotify’s decision in a tweet, changing the words to Young’s song “My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue.”

“Bye Bye, Hey Hey, Neil Young is gone today. It’s better to boycott than to just obey. Bye Bye, Hey Hey,” he wrote, adding, “Seeya @Neilyoung.”

Paul continued, calling Young’s “Ohio,” written in the aftermath of the Kent State massacre, “one of the greatest protest songs of all time.”

“Free speech is kinda important also,” he concluded.

Bye Bye, Hey Hey
Neil Young is gone today
It’s better to boycott
Than to just obey
Bye Bye, Hey Hey

Seeya @Neilyoung

Even though Ohio is one of the greatest protest songs of all time, free speech is kinda important also.

— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 27, 2022

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Spotify sides with Joe Rogan after Neil Young ultimatum