Singer-songwriter Neil Young has asked employees of Spotify Technology SA to quit their jobs. Also, he urged people to withdraw their money from big American banks. This is in protests over coronavirus misinformation and climate change.
Young, criticized the music streaming platform’s chief executive officer, Daniel Ek, in his statement by saying that he was the main problem, in the wake of criticism of U.S. podcaster Joe Rogan. He is the one, who has courted controversy with his views on COVID-19 vaccines. Spotify hosts the top-rated podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. Young stated that in their communication age, misinformation is the problem. The rock star pulled his content from the streaming platform last month after objecting to his music being played on the same platform as Rogan’s podcast, over what Young said was misleading information on vaccines.
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, guitarist Nils Lofgren and best-selling U.S. professor and author Brene Brown followed suit. Young also urged people to move their money out of multinational banks JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citigroup Inc, Bank of America Corp and Wells Fargo & Co. As he stated that they all are damage causers for their funding of fossil fuels. Rogan has apologized for both the racial slurs and the controversy over COVID vaccines.
Young’s comments come a day after Ek told his staff that while he condemned the slurs used by Rogan. Young said in a music platform that Daniel Ek is their big problem, not Joe Rogan. And they should get out of that place before it eats up their soul. Young also urged fellow musicians and artists to take their output elsewhere. The platform saw more than $2 billion wiped off its market value last week even amidst the uproar over COVID misinformation. The company has said that it would add a content advisory to any episode that includes discussion of the coronavirus.
