Joni Mitchell pulling music off Spotify over misinformation: ‘I Stand With Neil Young!’
ByTheresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByTheresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Acclaimed singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell on Friday announced plans to remove her music from Spotify over COVID-19 misinformation spread on the music streaming platform by comedian Joe Rogan.
The announcement came days after Neil Young issued an ultimatum to Spotify, telling the company that “they can have Rogan or Young. Not both.” Spotify has since begun to remove Young’s music from its platform.
In an open letter shared Friday by Mitchell and originally published earlier this month, medical experts including physicians, nurses, professors and more, accused Spotify of “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.” In particular, the group pointed to a December episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast that critics say promoted baseless conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Rogan has repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine,” the open letter read. “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.”
In a post on her website titled “I Stand With Neil Young!” Mitchell wrote, “Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue.”
Mitchell has 3.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify, according to the streaming service.