“We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis.”
You know Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — and you probably know that they’ve had an overall podcast deal with Spotify for a minute now.
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The couple’s podcast company Archewell Audio signed an exclusive, multi-year contract with Spotify back in 2020.
You’re also most likely aware that artists — including legendary rocker Neil Young — are speaking out against Spotify’s relationship with controversial podcaster Joe Rogan and, in some cases, pulling their music from the service.
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“I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them,” Young wrote in a statement that requested to pull his music from the service. “They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.”
In light of the ongoing controversy surrounding @Spotify’s continued support of Joe Rogan, whose podcast has spread proven misinformation about Covid-19 and vaccine efficacy, a spokesperson for Archewell (Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s foundation) says:
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“Since the inception of Archewell, we have worked to address the real-time global misinformation crisis,” the statement read. “Hundreds of millions of people are affected by the serious harms of rampant mis- and disinformation every day.”
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“Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of COVID-19 misinformation on its platform. We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis.”
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“We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.”
Meghan and Harry aren’t the only ones who have spoken out after Young’s statement. Legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has also sided with Young and said she’ll be pulling her music from Spotify.
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“I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify,” Mitchell said in a statement. “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.”