U.S. News
Joe Rogan addresses Spotify controversy over reported misinformation [Video]
- Spotify declined to remove episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” despite backlash over its reported misinformation regarding COVID-19.
- Several artists, including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, had their music removed from Spotify in protest.
- Rogan has since apologized and promised to provide a balance of opinions on his podcast.
Joe Rogan has addressed the controversy surrounding his Spotify podcast after recent developments, pledging to do his best to provide more balance on his show.
“The Joe Rogan Experience” has been Spotify’s leading podcast, with about 11 million listeners per episode. In 2020, Rogan signed a $100 million deal that gave the platform exclusive rights to his show.
But the star has been receiving growing backlash for his discussion of COVID-19. Several guests featured on the show questioned the use of masks or the safety of vaccines, while some promoted widely discredited drugs.
Several artists, including musicians Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Bruce Springsteen guitarist Nils Lofgren, have pulled their music from the platform after Spotify declined to remove episodes that spread misinformation about the pandemic.
Rogan, who said that he has “always been a Neil Young fan,” responded, “I’m very sorry that they feel that way. I most certainly don’t want that.”
In a 10-minute video on Instagram, Rogan pledged to do his best to research topics beforehand. He also promised to feature more people “with differing opinions” on his show “to balance out these more controversial viewpoints with other people’s perspectives, so we can maybe find a better point of view.”
Rogan added, “I’m not trying to promote misinformation. I’m not trying to be controversial. I’ve never tried to do anything with this podcast other than just talk to people and have interesting conversations.”
He then touched upon the episodes that featured guests who drew criticism.
Rogan explained that he “wanted to hear what their opinion is,” given that they are “highly credentialed, very intelligent, very accomplished people,” offering “an opinion that’s different from the mainstream narrative.”
“I do not know if they’re right. I don’t know because I’m not a doctor; I’m not a scientist,” he pointed out. “I’m just a person who sits down and talks to people and has conversations with them.”
Spotify has since announced that they would add content advisories to any podcast episode that would discuss the pandemic.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek explained on Sunday that the advisory “will direct listeners to our dedicated COVID-19 Hub” containing accessible and up-to-date information, as well as “links to trusted sources.”
Spotify has also featured its “long-standing Platform Rules” on its website. It will now test methods to “raise awareness around what’s acceptable and help creators understand their accountability for the content they post on our platform.”
Rogan expressed his support toward Spotify’s decision to add content advisories. He also thanked the platform for their support and expressed his sympathies about it “taking so much heat.”
The podcaster has previously stated that he’s not “anti-vax,” and that he’s not a source of medical advice since he isn’t a doctor.
Source: NBC News
