Everything You Need to Know About the Spotify/Joe Rogan Situation

The streaming platform and the popular podcaster are both pledging to do better.

Spotify has copped a tonne of backlash lately. Musicians have been boycotting the streaming service, while medical experts also chimed in on COVID-19 misinformation on the platform.

All their claims are directed toward Spotify’s #1 podcaster, Joe Rogan.

In response, Spotify has announced they’ll be directing listeners to accurate COVID-19 information and publishing rules for creators and Joe Rogan, via an almost 10-minute Instagram video, has pledged to "try harder to get people with differing opinions" on his podcast.

A lot has happened, so let’s unpack it together:

How it started.

Earlier this year, 270 doctors, scientists and healthcare professionals signed an open letter to Spotify regarding Joe Rogan's "concerning history" of discussing the pandemic. They called him a “menace to public health.”

Rogan had previously discouraged vaccination in young people and promoted the use of an unverified anti-parasitic drug to treat the virus. But, he did paddle back on some of his comments last year, saying: "I'm not an anti-vax person. I believe they're safe and encourage many people to take them."

It’s what led folk musician, Neil Young, to tell Spotify to remove his music. And he wasn't the only big name to chime in.

Neil, as well as Joni Mitchell and other artists began pulling their music and podcasts from Spotify in protest of “promoting lies and misinformation” about vaccinations.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry also voiced their "concerns" to Spotify over misinformation, but say they will continue to work with the platform.

Spotify has even faced a bit of backlash from users, with some choosing to exit the service and move to rivals.

How it’s going.

Here’s what Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek, wrote in a statement: “Based on the feedback over the last several weeks, it’s become clear to me that we have an obligation to do more to provide balance and access to widely-accepted information from the medical and scientific communities guiding us through this unprecedented time,” he said.

Two main actions have been proposed: content disclaimers and making their content/platform rules public.

The content advisory will present as a pop-up before any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19. The label will direct listeners to a hub of up-to-date resources that provide “easy access to data-driven facts” from medical and health experts.

The streamer has also published their “long-standing Platform Rules” with Ek adding that the platform is committed to publishing clearer rules for content creators to raise awareness about accountability.

In Rogan’s Instagram pledge, he denied trying to spread misinformation, while also admitting "absolutely I get things wrong." He also backed Spotify's plans.

 

Apple Music listeners watching #Spotifydeleted trending pic.twitter.com/emFevdns7L

— Nick (@ChristusTheNick) January 27, 2022

So, uh, would Spotify ever get rid of Joe Rogan?

Short answer, probably not.

The Joe Rogan Experience is Spotify's most popular podcast. They reportedly spent more than $100 million to obtain exclusive rights to it, and the podcast is said to nab 200 million downloads a month.

Critics have drawn lines between the fact that Spotify is a tech platform, not a music platform. Remember when our gal Taylor Swift pulled her music from the platform until it met financial her demands? Anyway...

Joe Rogan is making as much as 100 million on Spotify while artists have to get 350 plays to make a dollar? I'd leave just over that.

— Alexander Chee (@alexanderchee) January 30, 2022

Header Image: Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash