Neil Young Wants Spotify to Remove His Music Over Vaccine Misinformation From Joe Rogan

Neil Young issued a letter to his management team demanding Spotify to remove his music from the streaming service over vaccine misinformation on the Spotify-exclusive podcast The Joe Rogan Experience.

Young shared the letter on his official website, but the letter has since been deleted. However, Rolling Stone reports the letter said, in part, "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."

He added, "I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform They can have Rogan or Young. Not both."

The Joe Rogan Experience has come under fire multiple times during the coronavirus pandemic for spreading misinformation. Most recently, Rogan had Dr. Robert Malone on a December 31, 2021 episode of the podcast. Dr. Malone has been banned from Twitter due to spreading COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. The episode resulted in hundreds of medical professionals and educators issuing an open letter to Spotify asking the platform to establish a policy on misinformation. The letter read, in part, "By allowing the propagation of false and societally harmful assertions, Spotify is enabling its hosted media to damage public trust in scientific research and sow doubt in the credibility of data-driven guidance offered by medical professionals."

The letter also mentions, "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Rogan has repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine. He has discouraged vaccination in young people and children, incorrectly claimed that mRNA vaccines are “gene therapy,” promoted off-label use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 (contrary to FDA warnings), and spread a number of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories...This is not only a scientific or medical concern; it is a sociological issue of devastating proportions and Spotify is responsible for allowing this activity to thrive on its platform."