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After multiple public figures and artists announced they would be pulling their content from Spotify overCOVID-19misinformation, the streaming platform addressed the controversy on Sunday.
To combat inaccurate information regarding the coronavirus and vaccines, Spotify announced plans to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes discussion about COVID-19.
In regard to COVID-19 misinformation, Spotify’s rules tell creators to avoid “content that promotes dangerous false or dangerous deceptive medical information that may cause offline harm or poses a direct threat to public health.”
Content in violation of those rules may be removed from the platform, though Spotify states that they “keep context in mind” when making decisions.
Sunday’s announcement comes days afterNeil Youngdemanded Spotifyremove his musicfrom the platform after he claimed that Rogan, 54, was spreading misinformation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic on hisJoe Rogan Experiencepodcast. The open letter Young, 76, shared to his website on Monday appears to have since been deleted.
Neil Young and Joe Rogan.getty (2)
“I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform. They can have [Joe] Rogan or Young. Not both,” Young added, according to the outlets.
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Joni Mitchelland Nils Lofgren have since joined Young in having their music pulled from the streaming service.
Lofgren, 70, announced that he’s had “the last 27 years of my music” removed in an effort to boycott the spread of COVID-19 misinformation, in part through theJoe Rogan Experiencepodcast.
“A few days ago, my wife Amy and I became aware of Neil and [wifeDaryl Hannah] 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,” Lofgren began a statement from himself and wife Amy Lofgren on Young’swebsite.
“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,” he continued. “You listen and stand with them.”
Lofgren noted that while he’s had a majority of his own music taken down already, he’s also reaching out to the labels who own his earlier work to have that removed as well. “We sincerely hope they honor our wishes, as Neil’s labels have done, his. We will do everything possible towards that end and will keep you posted,” he wrote.
“Neil and I go back 53 years. Amy and I are honored and blessed to call Neil and Daryl friends, and knew standing with them was the right choice. We encourage all musicians, artists and music lovers everywhere, to stand with us all, and cut ties with Spotify,” Lofgren added.
“Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in a statement. “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,” the couple added.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Chris Jackson/Getty
The controversy comes after a group of 270 scientists, professors and medical professionals previously shared anopen letterto Spotify on New Year’s Eve, requesting the audio giant implement a misinformation policy.
The letter made note of Rogandiscouraging vaccinations in young people and children, falsely claiming that mRNA vaccines are “gene therapy” and promoting off-label use of ivermectin to treat COVID, which the FDA has previouslywarned against.
“With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode,JREis the world’s largest podcast and has tremendous influence,” the letter stated. “Though Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, the company presently has no misinformation policy.”
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Rogan has repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine,” they added.
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source: people.com
