Spotify controversies

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• Spotify, which has been beleaguered by Rogan-related controversies for weeks, removed about 70 old episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” on Friday, according to the website JRE Missing, giving no explanation.

• Popular Spotify podcast host Joe Rogan, who is white, apologized early Saturday morning for previously using the N-word after the musician India Arie, who is Black, posted a video montage online of Rogan saying the word about 20 times on his show across the years.

Company response

• Clarification — Spotify

  “I think the important part here is that we don’t change our policies based on one creator nor do we change it based on any media cycle, or calls from anyone else,” Ek said.

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• Amidst all the recent Spotify controversy over the last week or so, CEO and founder Daniel Ek has defended the service's decisions in regards to Joe Rogan's podcast.

• Neil Young just about initiated a movement last week when he demanded Spotify remove either his music catalog or Rogan's podcast, which the singer-songwriter argued is spreading questionable information related to vaccines.

• In response to the increasing number of creators requesting their content be taken off the platform, Ek spoke about the company's policies during an earnings call, according to a report by the New York Times.

Company response

• Remediation — Spotify

  I'm pleased that Spotify is already implementing several first-of-its-kinds measures to help combat misinformation and provide greater transparency.

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• "There's still work to be done," Ek said. "But I'm pleased that Spotify is already implementing several first-of-its-kinds measures to help combat misinformation and provide greater transparency."

• Spotify CEO Daniel Ek addressed the controversy around comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan on Wednesday, saying that the company is "trying to balance creative expression with the safety of our users."

• Following the backlash, Spotify said it is adding a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19. The advisory will direct listeners to a COVID-19 hub that will include links to trusted sources, the company said.

Company response

• Remediation — Spotify

  An advisory on any podcast episode on its platform that includes coronavirus discussion will direct listeners to a resource hub featuring up-to-date information shared by scientists, physicians, and other healthcare authorities, the company said in a statement Sunday.

• Remediation — Spotify

  Spotify announced that it was “working to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19”

Source excerpt

• Spotify shares surged Monday as the audio streaming company said it will add an advisory to content containing discussions about COVID-19, a response to criticism that "The Joe Rogan Experience" program was spreading misinformation about the virus.

• An advisory on any podcast episode on its platform that includes coronavirus discussion will direct listeners to a resource hub featuring up-to-date information shared by scientists, physicians, and other healthcare authorities, the company said in a statement Sunday.

• Following the criticism of Spotify's handling of the controversial content in 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast, the platform will now add COVID-19 content advisories to podcast episodes that discuss the disease.

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• Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has announced that she will remove her music from Spotify following the lead of Neil Young in protesting the popular streaming service giving voice to misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines.

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• The backlash faced by Spotify in the wake of the conflict between Neil Young and Joe Rogan is apparently being fuelled by figures like the head of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and another musician, Joni Mitchell.

• The latter, for her part, announced that she is willing to join Young's boycott of Spotify. Mitchell said she is seeking to withdraw her music from the platform in a letter titled "I Stand With Neil Young" posted on her website.

• The podcast host is no stranger to being at the centre of controversies, as he is often accused of misinformation or even hate speech.

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• Aside from the episode where Dr. Malone was in the show, the experts also mentioned that Joe Rogan has "repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast."

• Joe Rogan is in another backlash on Wednesday as at least 270 doctors and scientists signed an open letter requesting Spotify to monitor his podcast over COVID misinformation.

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• The complaint alleged that Spotify has not paid the full royalty for the 550,000,000-plus streams of PMR’s songs on Spotify.

• On November 25, plaintiff Pro Music Rights filed a complaint against Defendant, Spotify (

• PMR has sought monetary damages to compensate for injuries caused by Spotify’s failure “to fulfill its duties and obligations as a music streaming service,” the willful removal of content for anticompetitive purposes, unfair and deceptive business practices and engagements