Rock star Neil Young chose his principles over a paycheck from music sharing platform Spotify. Photo / Rebecca Cabage, Invision via AP, File
EDITORIAL
Singer/songwriter Neil Young this week needled content sharing platform Spotify, alleging damage being done to the fight against the Covid pandemic.
In a letter on his website, Young said: "Spotify is spreading fake information
about vaccines, potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them."
A survivor of polio as a child, Young told Spotify it could either have him on its platform or the podcaster Joe Rogan – not both. Spotify swiftly responded by opting for Rogan, and expressing a hope to welcome Young back "soon".
With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, Rogan clearly held enough clout over Young, who has an estimated less than half that each month. It would have been a no-brainer for Spotify to dust Young off like lint off a shoulder and carry on counting the clicks.
Young can afford the stand, having sold half of his publishing rights to the investment fund Hipgnosis last year, netting him about $230 million. But it is still a big step to slap away the largest growing music outlet. Spotify's subscriber base has increased dramatically in the last few Covid-ravaged years and has more than doubled since early 2017.
Young has history with Spotify, previously removing his songs claiming poor sound quality, but in choosing morality over money, Young's move will be music to the ears of fans who have suffered fools such as Eric Clapton and Van Morrison during these troubled times.
Perhaps other musicians too will consider there comes a time to contribute more to the collective good than going after the gold rush.