Singer Neil Young’s music is being removed from Spotify, a music streaming service, after he gave them an ultimatum to either remove his songs, or cancel podcaster Joe Rogan.
The “Heart of Gold” singer wrote a letter to his management team and record label earlier this week demanding they remove his music from Spotify if Joe Rogan isn’t banned from the platform for spreading “fake information about vaccines.”
“I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform,” wrote the liberal singer.
Young, 76, ordered Spotify to cancel their most popular podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” or remove his music from their platform, writing that “They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.”
“I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them,” Young wrote. “Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule.”
However, Spotify sided with Rogan, and will instead remove the liberal musician’s content.
Spotify reportedly paid over $100 million to be the exclusive platform to host “The Joe Rogan Experience,” their most viewed podcast. Meanwhile, Young will lose 60 percent of his streaming revenue after his exit from the steaming service.
Rogan’s podcast has 11 million viewers on average per episode on Spotify, while Young had over six million monthly listeners.
Young’s failed attempt to cancel Rogan’s podcast is not the first time the musician has tried to attack someone with a differing opinions.
In 2020, Young sued President Trump for playing his songs “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk” at one of his rallies in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Young complained that he “cannot allow his music to be used as a ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”
Young later dismissed the case himself “with prejudice.”