Neil Young is returning to Spotify after two years of boycotting podcaster Joe Rogan. The iconic singer removed his music from Spotify in 2022 after Rogan, whose podcast was exclusively on Spotify, had a controversial infectious disease expert on as a guest during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Without naming Rogan, Young has announced on his website: “My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify.” Earlier, Rogan had an exclusive deal with Spotify, which has since been renewed to allow wider distribution of his show, The Joe Rogan Experience.
In 2022, Rogan interviewed Dr Robert Malone, who was banned from Twitter (now known as X) for spreading misinformation on Covid-19 (his account has been reinstated). Following Young’s protest, the singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell also removed her music from Spotify. Ultimately, Rogan said he was willing to have “more experts with differing opinions right after I have the controversial ones”.
Since music streaming is now the easiest way to make music accessible, Young said he can’t leave music services like Apple and Amazon. Despite the fact that other streaming services now feature Rogan’s podcast, he is staying on other platforms and returning to Spotify. He said he hopes Spotify improves their sound quality, suggesting the company add a limited Hi Res and “build from there”. The Hi Res layer was announced years ago but somehow Spotify is yet to implement it.
In February, Young and Crazy Horse revealed their upcoming album, FU##IN’ UP, will contain songs from the band’s 50 year career, freshly recorded for 2024. The album will have its initial release on Record Store Day on April 20; it will arrive in all formats on April 26.