It seems Neil Young can ignore the royalty checks and is retiring his music to Spotify, after previously pulling his extensive catalog after much fanfare amid the pandemic vaccine hysteria.
Two years after crying about “vaccine misinformation” being shared by the mega-popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, and dramatically calling for the digital music platform to remove his work from its offerings, Young is returning to Spotify while still claiming there is “disinformation ” being spread.
Neil Young backtracks protest & puts his music catalog back on Spotify after 2022 Joe Rogan Vaccine comments:
“My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at SPOTIFY. I cannot just leave Apple… pic.twitter.com/qxrycMxHM1
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 13, 2024
In a post on the Neil Young Archives Website, the 78-year-old singer-songwriter announced that Spotify “will now be home of my music again.”
“I hope all you millions of Spotify users enjoy my songs!” he wrote. “They will now all be there for you except for the full sound we created.”
But the announcement made clear Young was not thrilled with his begrudging return.
“My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify,” he said.
“I cannot just leave Apple and Amazon, like I did Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all,” he admitted, “so I have returned to Spotify, in sincere hopes that Spotify sound quality will improve and people will be able to hear and feel all the music as we made it.”
The “Heart of Gold,” and “Old Man” singer continued his digs against Spotify, calling it the ”#1 streamer of low res music in the world … where you get less quality than we made.”
“Hopefully Spotify will turn to Hi Res as the answer and serve all the music to everyone,” he concluded. “Spotify, you can do it! Really be #1 in all ways. You have the music and the listeners!!!! Start with a limited Hi res tier and build from there!”
Spotify’s multimillion-dollar deal with Joe Rogan sparked the rocker’s ultimatum, telling the company to choose and accusing Rogan and his podcast guests of spreading “fake information” about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines. Rogan’s interview with Dr. Robert Malone seemed to set off the left-wing zealots who wanted no other narrative to be promoted.
Malone penned his thoughts on Young’s return to Spotify, noting that he himself is still banned on many platforms.
“Not once has Neil Young or Joni Mitchell ever reached out to discuss their concerns. Not that I expected them to. The once-rebels have turned into the status-quo,” he wrote.
“They can have Rogan or Young. Not both”
Neil Young returns to Spotify and hopes no one will notice.
Yeh, for me – this is personal.
The link to the essay and my thoughts is in the comments. pic.twitter.com/Yy03Y2ELB2— Robert W Malone, MD (@RWMaloneMD) March 13, 2024
Young’s about-face may be celebrated by his fans but plenty of comments on social media called out the rocker for being a hypocrite.
Just so we’re clear on this… Neil Young pulled his music from Spotify over the seriousness of @joerogan spreading “dangerous misinformation” … but now that this “dangerous misinformation” is on even more platforms Young has decided to, no, not to pull his music from the other… pic.twitter.com/6qdlM4OD54
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) March 13, 2024
I couldn’t agree more. When Neil Young, David Crosby and others supposedly pulled their music from Spotify over “disinformation”, I reported the fact that Young and Crosby had already sold their music catalogs and no longer had control of where their music was played. It was all…
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) March 13, 2024
Translation: Need more royalties.
— Cleavage Crumbs (@CleavageCrumbs) March 13, 2024
“Backtracks” = Mouthing off in the press ended up costing him too much $$$ https://t.co/DeZnJeAYy0
— Brad Slager: Flips On The Highbeams In Fog Of War (@MartiniShark) March 13, 2024
Neil Young returning to Spotify, not because he’s now in favour of free speech, but because it’s too costly not to use the platform https://t.co/JkiYnODlA0
— Winston Marshall (@MrWinMarshall) March 14, 2024
“Neil Young Has No Spine.” – a short story in four screenshots. pic.twitter.com/8gDVr7WRf5
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) March 13, 2024
Neil Young is returning to Spotify after saving eleventy bajillion lives by opposing allowing adults to have conversations
— Tom Woods (@ThomasEWoods) March 13, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
- Secret Service ‘not letting’ Tiger Woods drive with Trump’s grandchildren, even without DUI - March 30, 2026
- Pathetic Robert De Niro demands Trump removal at ‘No Kings’ rally - March 30, 2026
- ‘X-Files’ reboots for the DEI era - March 30, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.