Neil Young and Spotify: Musician threatens to withdraw from the audio platform

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Musician Neil Young (archive image)

Photo Credit: Rebecca Cabage / Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP

Canadian singer Neil Young has threatened to boycott the audio platform Spotify because she is said to have spread false information about corona vaccines.

As the industry journal Variety reported, the 76-year-old published an open letter on his website on Monday evening, which was later taken offline again.

The music magazine "Rolling Stone", the music platform "Pitchfork" and the news portal "USA Today" also reported on the letter.

Accordingly, Young wrote that he no longer wanted his music on Spotify and asked his management and his record company to inform the Swedish streaming service immediately.

"I'm doing this because Spotify is spreading false information about vaccines - potentially causing the deaths of those who believe the disinformation they're spreading," Neil Young was quoted as saying.

“You can have Rogan or Young.

Not both"

According to media reports, the musician's anger is directed against the podcast by US comedian Joe Rogan, who has been criticized for downplaying the corona virus and spreading conspiracy theories.

The entrepreneur, who became known as a mixed martial arts commentator, addresses a very wide audience with his podcasts, he is considered to be influential among young target groups and a more conservative audience.

In September 2021 he was infected with the corona virus.

“You can have Rogan or Young.

Not both,” Young is said to have written in his statement.

According to Variety, Rogan's podcast was the most listened-to podcast worldwide in the past year.

According to a post on his website in March 2021, Young has been vaccinated against the coronavirus and is calling on his fans to do the same.

Young, who also holds US citizenship since 2020, has released a total of 43 studio albums in his long career.

His most famous song, "Heart of Gold," has been played more than 235 million times on Spotify alone.

bam/dpa