19 February 2022
Red & Black
Current events 8
Joni Mitchell Joins in Protest Against Spotify Vaishnavi Peyyety Contributing Writer
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The Joe Rogan Experience, available
Accomplished singer-songwriter Neil Young has decided to remove his music from the popular streaming service named Spotify. In solidarity with his decision, Canadian singer Joni Mitchell removed her music from Spotify as well. These events were in response to Spotify’s
decision to host Joe Rogan whose podcast has “been criticized by doctors and scientists for spreading misinformation regarding the coronavirus and vaccines” (Cills). Mitchell also promoted the “Open Letter to Spotify” that was signed by “over a thousand doctors and scientists speaking against Rogan’s false statements regarding vaccine safety and coronavirus precautions” (Cills). In the letter, they explain how they hope to implement a misinformation policy because Spotify is allowing media to “damage public trust in scientific research and sow doubts in the credibility of data-driven guidance by medical
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On January 18th, 2020, Joni Mitchell attends the 35gh Annual NAMM TEC Awards, in Anaheim, California.
professionals” (“Joni Mitchell Library - an Open Letter to Spotify: JoniMitchell.com, January 28, 2022”). Joe Rogan’s podcast has discouraged vaccination in young adults, falsely stated that mRNA vaccines are “gene therapy,” encouraged use of baseless treatments for COVID and many other untrue theories (“Joni Mitchell Library - an Open Letter to Spotify: JoniMitchell.com, January 28, 2022”). Additionally, Rogan’s listeners average around 24 years old and according to Washington State data “unvaccinated 12-34 year olds are 12 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID than those who are fully vaccinated,” an alarming statistic (“Joni Mitchell Library - an Open Letter to Spotify: JoniMitchell.com, January 28, 2022”). According to Neil Young, the listeners of this podcast can be easily swayed and convinced of statements that are simply untrue because generally young people do not believe that Spotify would promote false information. In response, Spotify issued a statement in which they claimed they “removed over 20,000 podcast episodes related to COVID since the start of the pandemic” (Cills). Spotify states they are not “editorially responsible” and can not control what Rogan believes or says on their platform.
