Two Years On: Why did Neil Young’s Spotify boycott fail to catch on?
In January 2022, Neil Young made headlines by demanding the removal of his entire music catalogue from Spotify. His decision stemmed from a deeply held principle. The renowned singer-songwriter expressed outrage over Spotify’s backing of The Joe Rogan Experience, a podcast accused of disseminating misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines. Following Young’s lead, several other prominent artists followed suit in the subsequent weeks, opting to withdraw their music from the platform.
“I woke up one morning, and I heard somebody saying there was some scientists saying something about Covid, or some doctors and they were saying something about Covid and how many people were dying in hospitals and misinformation,” Young said, adding that there were allegedly some podcasts on Spotify that were spreading false details about vaccinations.
“And I listened to it, and they were saying he purposely is saying this stuff that he knows isn’t true about Covid and people were dying. I just called up my management and said, ‘We’re out of there. Get me off.’”
Of course, Young was referring to Rogan’s podcast specifically and the ways in which he believed the misinformation to be largely detrimental to the public and medical staff who were tirelessly working to keep the nation’s head above water.
Two years later, this entire incident feels like a fading memory. Spotify continues to reign as the biggest music streaming service, with several artists initially involved in the boycott eventually reinstating their catalogues. This prompts the question: Why did the movement fail to gain momentum?
Why is Neil Young not on Spotify?
“The way I look at it, that just turned me off, and I made an instant decision — I didn’t think about it at all — just take my music off, we don’t need it. We’ve got all these other places,” Young said of his choice to remove his music from the platform. “And it sounds better at the other places. Why would I want to keep it on Spotify when it sounds like a pixilated movie?”
When it came down to it, Young famously quipped that it was ultimately a “him or me” situation, and as a result, “they chose to have that guy because they’re making millions of dollars off of him.” Clearly, the Boycott stemmed from what seemed to be a personal dispute. The most impactful boycotts, protests, and movements usually arise in response to widespread issues affecting numerous individuals who have historically been marginalised or silenced.
However, while Young’s choice to break up with Spotify due to Rogan’s Covid-19 vaccination misinformation started as a typical moral high-ground situation, it seemed to take on a different essence entirely when the musician continued to relentlessly rally against big business. Consequently, his criticism of Spotify appeared more akin to a personal confrontation rather than an uprising.
Why did Neil Young’s Spotify boycott fail to catch on?
When Young first left the platform, many felt it was a significant act of heroism and that others should follow in his footsteps. However, the fact that Young was already an established artist when the boycott occurred carried significant weight. Throughout his career, he has deliberately sacrificed potential commercial success in favour of preserving his artistic integrity.
He also cultivated a dedicated fan base that continued to support his work regardless of mainstream trends. Therefore, his absence from the streaming platform did not threaten his legacy, with the same rationale applying to the other artists who participated in the boycott. On the other hand, one factor that may contribute to the limited exodus of artists from Spotify is that, despite the comparatively low royalty rates, the platform remains a crucial revenue stream for many.
Although some artists rely heavily on Spotify as a means of discovering new fans and getting their music heard, for Young and his allies, Spotify was never a necessity. Many of those who participated in the boycott already had well-established careers which wouldn’t face too much harm from leaving the site. However, there’s a certain audacity in Young’s call to action for fellow artists, particularly those struggling to afford touring due to rising costs, to sever ties with a service that offers them a modest yet consistent income stream.
The streaming giant is also a huge industry standard: artists of varying degrees of success are surrounded by Spotify discourse at all times, reminded of its value in getting to where they need to be. That’s not to mention its convenience; as an artist, you want a quick and easy way to get your music heard. Spotify seems a no-brainer, a necessary compromise when it comes to visibility and credibility. Young was in a good position to make such a big decision, most of the music industry can’t afford to sever such ties.
Which musicians left Spotify?
These included India Arie, Nils Lofgren, Failure, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Joni Mitchell. While some have since re-added their music to the platform, many, including Mitchell, have remained consistent in their decision.
While Young’s unwavering opposition to capitalist authority is commendable, his grievances may seem trivial when compared to the profound issues of censorship and freedom of speech on Spotify and other sites. What’s more, there may be issues with the kinds of entertainment on the platform, but it also puts an entire wave of fans who might have otherwise discovered or re-discovered his music at a disadvantage.
