Spotify was facing great controversy when Neli Young forced the streaming service to choose between him and Joe Rogan. The legendary songwriter Neil Young wrote a letter about the misgivings with Spotify.
Following the footsteps of hundreds of healthcare professionals, Young decried Rogan’s misinformation about COVID-19 and criticized Spotify for hosting Joe Rogan’s show. Explore more to know why artists are leaving Spotify. After that, many artists choose to follow in Young’s footsteps.
Neil Young wrote a letter threatening to remove his catalog from Spotify. Since that many artists also choose to leave the streaming platform and remove their content from Spotify. Some of the names who decided to support Young are Joni Mitchell, and Nils Lofgren, India. Arie, and Graham Nash.
Why is Everyone Living on Spotify?
Spotify is facing mounting criticism after singer Neil Young followed through the threats to remove the music from Spotify. The songwriter accused star podcaster Joe Rogan of spreading misinformation related to COVID and vaccines on his show, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
https://open.spotify.com/show/4rOoJ6Egrf8K2IrywzwOMk
Neil Young posted a letter on Spotify, where he wrote: “They can have Rogan or Young: Now Both.” He also asked the streaming service to remove music and announced the same the next day.
Since then, many growing artists have followed Young’s footsteps. His pushback has led to many questions about Spotify supporting Rogan and its responsibilities for monitoring content distribution on the platform to millions of listeners. Later on, many social media users posted that they were deleting the app from their smart devices.
Lots of musicians and podcasters are banding together to remove their streaming content from Spotify, increasing the streaming services’ troubles. Spotify offered subscriber projections that fell below Wall Street forecasts for the first quarter, sending its stock tumbling in late trading.
Spotify experienced around $2 billion wiped off in its market value last week due to the uproar over COVID misinformation. The company then said that it would add “content advisory” to all episodes that include discussion of the pandemic. Rogan also posted a video on Instagram in which he vowed to bring balance to his show.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CZYQ_nDJi6G/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Young’s protests have prompted other artists to break up with Spotify. Many musicians have long been frustrated with how the company pays to play their songs and are hoping the backlash will force bigger changes. Since then, Spotify has announced new policies for misinformation, but so far, it has not dampened criticism of the company.
List of Artists Leaving Spotify
Neil Young and Joni Mitchell’s decision to pull their streaming content from Spotify has got support from many fellow artists. But it’s not as easy for others, even for those who have been in the music industry for many years, to follow suit. Soon after, Young left the platform; the first one to join him was Joni Mitchell.
Joni said, “Irresponsible people are spreading misinformation that is costing people their lives. Joni said I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the medical communities and scientists on this issue.” Soon the two were followed by Nils Lofgren, writing on the website, “When these heroic women and men, who have spent lives healing and saving our, cry out for assistance, you do not turn your back on them for power and money. Listen to them and stand with them.”
The author, professor, and author, Brené Brown hosted a popular podcast, Unlocking Us on Spotify. She twisted; she was momentarily pausing a new episode on the publication.
https://twitter.com/BreneBrown/status/1487535996782710786?
Blythe Terrell and Wendy Zukermanon January 31, published a letter stating frustration with Spotify’s support of the Joe Rogan Experience and the dissatisfaction with the company’s new rules targeting pandemic misinformation, arguing that they do not go “far enough.”
Terrell and Zukerman wrote a letter, “Until Spotify implements strong methods to avoid the spread of misinformation on this platform, we will no longer be making Science Vs. episodes, except intended to counteract misinformation being spread on the streaming services. They added that they closely collaborate with the music streaming service to further combat COVID-19 misinformation on the platform.
https://twitter.com/wendyzuk/status/1488296019481993216?
Singer and songwriter India Arie, on February 1, announced on Instagram that she would be removing the content, which includes podcasts and music, from the platform but expanded the circle of reasoning for doing so. The musician wrote, “I believe in freedom of speech,” “However I find Joe Rogan problematic for reasons other than his pandemic interviews. For me, it’s also his language around race.”
Also saw the author Roxane Gay on February 1, who hosted a Luminary original podcast known as The Roxane Gay Agenda, announce that she has stopped distributing her show through Spotify.
https://twitter.com/rgay/status/1488636708614639616
David Crosby also supported the artist; he wrote, “We support Neil and agree with him that there is dangerous disinformation being aired on the streaming platform’s Joe Rogan podcast. However, we always value alternate points of knowingly spreading disinformation during this pandemic that has deadly consequences.
https://twitter.com/thedavidcrosby/status/1488946909909688320?
“Until some action is taken to show that a situation for humanity must be balanced with commerce, we do not want the music or the music we made together to be on the platform.
From Spotify to Independence: Why Musicians Are Choosing to Go Solo
Launching an independent streaming platform can be a smart choice for artists who want more control over their content, revenue, and audience engagement. Here are some key reasons why:
Creative and Content Control
By launching their own streaming platform, artists have full control over their music, podcasts, and any other content they want to share. They no longer need to worry about third-party platforms censoring or removing their work, which can happen due to platform policies or controversies like the Joe Rogan issue on Spotify.
Better Revenue Sharing
Streaming services often pay artists very low royalties per stream. An independent music streaming platform like Spotify allows artists to set their own pricing models and retain a much higher percentage of their earnings. This is especially appealing for musicians who have built a loyal fanbase that would support them directly.
Direct Audience Engagement
Owning a platform allows artists to interact more directly with their audience, offering exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, or personalized experiences. This can strengthen the relationship with their fans, encouraging more support through subscriptions, donations, or merchandise purchases.
Freedom from Corporate Control
Platforms like Spotify are driven by corporate interests, which may not always align with artists’ values or goals. By launching their own platform, artists are free from the constraints of corporate decisions that may prioritize profit over artist welfare, such as the controversy surrounding Spotify’s handling of misinformation.
Customization and Brand Building
With a white-label solution or other independent streaming options, artists can fully customize their platform’s interface, branding, and user experience. This creates a more cohesive brand presence and reinforces their artistic identity, setting them apart from competitors on crowded platforms.
Tailored User Experience
Artists can design the platform to cater specifically to their audience’s needs. Features like curated playlists, exclusive live streams, or integrated social features can be incorporated, making the platform more appealing than generic streaming services.
Is it a Smart Choice to Leave Spotify?
Many artists who are following Neil Young are leaving Spotify; however, there are a handful of music streaming platforms. They can choose to register themself with the top platforms like Amazon, Google, Apple, or any other. They can even choose to launch their music streaming platform.
While leaving mainstream platforms like Spotify may involve some risks, launching an independent streaming platform empowers artists with greater control over their careers. It allows them to build a sustainable business, connect with fans on a deeper level, and align their distribution model with their values.
