Neil Young Ends Spotify Boycott

Neil Young is ending his two-year Spotify boycott.

The celebrated singer is returning his music to the audio giant after Joe Rogan signed a $250m deal to make his podcast available on multiple platforms, rather than remaining a Spotify exclusive.

Young withdrew his music from Spotify in January 2022 due to its support for Rogan, and a number of big-name artists including his former bandmates Crosby, Stills and Nash followed suit.

Young’s issue with Spotify was that the platform was backing a podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, helmed by someone who was spreading vaccine misinformation.

Young yesterday indicated that his music’s return to the platform does not reflect a reversal of his stance against Rogan. He has previously said that Spotify represented 60% of his streaming revenue globally, leading to a “huge loss” for his record company.

“Other music services [including] Apple, Amazon, Qobuz, Tidal… have started serving the same disinformation podcast I had opposed at Spotify,” Young wrote on his website.

“Because I cannot leave all those services like I did Spotify, because my music would have no streaming outlet to music lovers at all, I have returned.”

Young is a decorated artist who has been making music for six decades with hits including “Harvest Moon”, “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man.”