Just Days After Neil Young Reverses Course, Joni Mitchell Also Quietly Returns to Spotify
Photo Credit: Elaina Finkelstein / Library of Congress
More than two years after following Neil Young and pulling her music from Spotify, Joni Mitchellâs body of work is back on the streaming platform.Only days after Neil Youngâs music inexplicably returned to Spotify, Joni Mitchellâs music is back on the streaming platform. Itâs been more than two years since the legendary artists pulled their catalogs from the Stockholm-based streaming giant in protest of what they called amplifying misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.
In 2022, Mitchell announced she was standing âin solidarityâ with Young and having her catalog removed from Spotify over the âirresponsible peopleâ who were âspreading lies that are costing people their lives.â Young had given Spotify an ultimatum in either featuring his music or Joe Roganâs podcast, which he accused of spreading misinformation about vaccines.
That move followed over 270 health professionals who signed an open letter asking that Spotify develop a âcounterinformationâ policy because of Joe Roganâs podcast, where the host promoted âfringeâ ideas ânot backed in science.â
Last month, Spotify signed a multi-year deal with Joe Rogan, ending its exclusivity agreement and making his show available on other platforms.The 80-year-old Mitchell has yet to issue a statement about her music returning to Spotify, but 78-year-old Young spoke out about his choice, writing, âMy decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify.â
âI cannot just leave Apple and Amazon, like I did Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all, so I have returned to Spotify, in sincere hopes that Spotify sound quality will improve and people will be able to hear and feel all the music as we made it,â Young continued.
Spokespeople for Spotify have declined to respond to media requests for comment.
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