Another 1970s singer pulled her music from Spotify in support of Neil Young, after Young pulled his music from the streaming service over Joe Rogan’s alleged COVID “misinformation.”
Joni Mitchell, who rose to fame in the 70s with hits like “Woodstock” and “Big Yellow Taxi,” announced Saturday that she was removing her music from Spotify in solidarity with Young.
“I’ve decided to remove all my music from Spotify,” Mitchell wrote on her website. “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.”
Mitchell also linked to an open letter issued to Spotify by 270 “scientists, medical professionals, professors, and science communicators” denouncing Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” specifically the December 31 episode featuring Dr. Robert Malone, the medical researcher who helped pioneer the mRNA vaccine technology used in the COVID-19 vaccines. The signees, many of whom are doctors without expertise in infectious disease or immunology, veterinarians, therapists, nurses, students, or podcasters themselves, claimed that Rogan “has a concerning history of broadcasting misinformation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic,” and said Spotify “has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform.”
The move prompted responses from a number of other septuagenarian singers and rock stars who supported Young, with several also pulling their songs from Spotify.
“Good for you Neil. I’ve always been an Apple guy for streaming. No Joe Rogan for me thank you!” tweeted “Show Me the Way” and “Baby, I Love Your Way” singer Peter Frampton.
Good for you Neil.
I’ve always been an Apple guy for streaming. No Joe Rogan for me thank you! @neilyoung @SpotifyUSA— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) January 28, 2022
Singer Liza Minelli also announced she was pulling her music from Spotify. “Liza Minnelli has outlived Joni Mitchell’s music on Spotify,” she tweeted. “She’s joining her friend Neil Young in having her music catalog pulled over concerns about vaccine misinformation being spread on Spotify’s Joe Rogan Experience podcast.”
Liza Minnelli has outlived Joni Mitchell’s music on Spotify. She’s joining her friend Neil Young in having her music catalog pulled over concerns about vaccine misinformation being spread on Spotify’s Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
— LizaMinnelliOutlives (@LiZaOutlives) January 29, 2022
David Crosby, who sang with Young in the folk supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, told another user that he would pull his music from the service if he owned it. “I no longer control it or I would in support of Neil,” Crosby tweeted.
I no longer control it or I would in support of Neil https://t.co/hrD132gi8T
— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) January 29, 2022
A number of users also claimed that singer Barry Manilow was also pulling his music from Spotify, but Manilow dismissed those rumors. “I recently heard a rumor about me and Spotify,” Manilow tweeted. “I don’t know where it started, but it didn’t start with me or anyone who represents me.”
I recently heard a rumor about me and Spotify. I don’t know where it started, but it didn’t start with me or anyone who represents me.
— Barry Manilow (@barrymanilow) January 28, 2022
Spotify removed Young’s catalog from their music library after he issued an ultimatum to the music streaming giant over Rogan’s podcast, as the Daily Wire previously reported. “I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform,” Young wrote in a letter to his management and record label. “They can have [Joe] Rogan or Young. Not both.”