Introduction
Joe Rogan, the popular podcast host and comedian, recently broke his silence after the controversy surrounding his podcast’s move to Spotify. The move has been met with criticism from some fans, who are concerned about the potential censorship of Rogan’s content. In this article, we’ll explore the controversy and Rogan’s response to it. We’ll also look at how the move to Spotify could affect the future of Rogan’s podcast and the podcast industry as a whole.
Joe Rogan Just Broke Silence After Spotify Controversy
Joe Rogan, the popular podcast host, recently broke his silence after the controversy surrounding his move to Spotify. After months of speculation, Rogan announced that his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, would be exclusively available on Spotify starting in September. The news sparked a wave of criticism from fans and critics alike, who argued that the move would limit the podcast’s reach and potentially censor Rogan’s content.
Rogan addressed the controversy in a recent episode of his podcast, saying that he was “surprised” by the backlash. He went on to explain that he had no intention of censoring his content and that he was simply looking for a platform that could help him reach a larger audience. He also noted that he was “very happy” with the deal he had struck with Spotify.
Rogan also addressed the criticism that he had received from some of his fans, saying that he understood their concerns but that he had to make the best decision for himself and his podcast. He also noted that he was “very excited” about the move to Spotify and that he was looking forward to the new opportunities it would bring.
Rogan’s move to Spotify has been met with both praise and criticism, but it’s clear that the podcast host is committed to making the best decision for himself and his podcast. Whether or not the move will be successful remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Rogan is determined to make the most of the opportunity.
Podcaster Joe Rogan and his platform, Spotify—caught up in an outrage over two guests accused of spreading COVID-19 misinformation on Rogan’s podcast—have issued statements about it, vowing to do things differently in the future. Their response comes after musicians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell asked that their music be removed from Spotify, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have a production deal with Spotify, voiced “concerns” to the network. Read on to see what Rogan and Spotify said, who else is protesting against the platform, and who has left it entirely—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
In response to the outrage over any possible COVID-19 misinformation, Spotify founder Daniel Ek wrote: “We are working to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19. This advisory will direct listeners to our dedicated COVID-19 Hub, a resource that provides easy access to data-driven facts, up-to-date information as shared by scientists, physicians, academics and public health authorities around the world, as well as links to trusted sources. This new effort to combat misinformation will roll out to countries around the world in the coming days. To our knowledge, this content advisory is the first of its kind by a major podcast platform,” he said. “I want you to know that from the very first days of the pandemic, Spotify has been biased toward action. We launched a variety of educational resources and campaigns to raise awareness and we developed and promoted a global COVID-19 Information Hub. We donated ad inventory to various organizations for vaccine awareness, funds to the World Health Organization and COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) to increase vaccine equity and supported the Go Give One fundraising campaign. And we established a music relief project to support the creative community.”
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In an Instagram video on Sunday, Rogan said he agreed with the idea of Spotify adding a content advisory to any COVID podcasts. He added about his past guests, which raised the ire of more than 200 medical experts: “I will do my best to try to balance out these more controversial viewpoints with other people’s perspectives so we can maybe find a better point of view. I don’t want to just show the contrary opinion to what the narrative is. I want to show all kinds of opinions so we can all figure out what’s going on and not just about COVID, about everything, about health, about fitness, wellness, the state of the world itself.” Keep reading to see who has protested or expressed concern.
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Unlike certain celebrities, Harry and Meghan will continue to work with Spotify. The full statement from the spokesman for Archewell said: “Since the inception of Archewell, we have worked to address the real-time global misinformation crisis. Hundreds of millions of people are affected by the serious harms of mis- and disinformation every day. Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of Covid misinformation on its platform. We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis. We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.”
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Musician Neil Young was the first to issue a public statement against the company. “Spotify has recently become a very damaging force via its public misinformation and lies about COVID,” Young wrote on his website. “I first learned of this problem by reading that 200 plus doctors had joined forces, taking on the dangerous life threatening COVID falsehoods found in Spotify programming. Most of the listeners hearing the unfactual, misleading and false COVID information on Spotify are 24 years old, impressionable and easy to swing to the wrong side of truth….I realized I could not continue to support Spotify’s life threatening misinformation tot he music loving public.” He added: “Spotify has become the home of life threatening COVID misinformation. Lies being sold for money.”
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Joni Mitchell, who shares a manager with Young, and has performed with him in the past, joined him in solidarity. “I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify. Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue,” she said in a statement on her website.
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Nils Lofgren, Bruce Springsteen’s guitarist, asked for his music to be pulled from the platform. “A few days ago, my wife Amy and I became aware of Neil and Daryl [Hannah]”—Young’s partner—”standing with hundreds of health care professionals, scientists, doctors and nurses in calling out Spotify for promoting lies and misinformation that are hurting and killing people,” he said. “When these heroic women and men, who’ve spent their lives healing and saving ours, cry out for help you don’t turn your back on them for money and power. You listen and stand with them.”
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Brené Brown, the bestselling author of Dare of Lead and Atlas of the Heart, hosts her podcast exclusively on Spotify and has put it on hiatus for now. “I will not be releasing any podcasts until further notice. To our #UnlockingUs and #DaretoLead communities, I’m sorry and I’ll let you know if and when that changes. Stay awkward, brave, and kind,” she tweeted, adding two hearts and a fist-bump emoji.
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Iconic actress Hannah posted a message of support for her partner Young. “So proud of this one standing up for his convictions since way back when of course #istandwithneilyoung & the frontline healthcare workers,” she wrote on Instagram, and continued: “sad to see some confuse censorship & free speech with the choice a private company has in deciding what they profit from a podcaster is free to say whatever they want Just as Neil is free to NOT have his music on a platform that makes $$$ of disinformation that harms folks ( thankfully it’s a small (though highly vocal community) However onward with peace love & music!!!” As for yourself, get boosted and vaccinated, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.