Spotify CEO seeks balance between creative expression, safety amid protests

Daniel Ek, the CEO of music streaming application Spotify, addressed the controversey around comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan. The 38-year-old, decribing the issue as a complicated one, said the company is implementing several first-of-its-kinds measures to combat misinformation. 

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Following protests kicked off by singer Neil Young over the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, Spotify had said that it will add content advisories before podcasts discussing COVID-19.

Young, who took his music off Spotify to object the misinformation spread on Joe Rogan’s podcast, had called on other artists to support him following his action. Joni Mitchell said Friday she is seeking to remove all of her music from Spotify in solidarity with him. 

Also read: Joe Rogan responds to Spotify protest, COVID advisories

Mitchell, 78 had 3.7 million monthly listeners to her music. Her songs “Big Yellow Taxi” and “A Case of You” have both been streamed more than 100 million times on the service.

Addressing the controversey, Ek on Wednesday said that Spotify is ‘trying to balance creative expression with the safety of our users’. 

“Of course, this is a very complicated issue. But I’m really proud of the steps that we took following the concerns raised by the medical and scientific communities,” Ek said in the company’s post-earnings call on Wednesday. 

The stocks of the music streaming service dropped more than 20% after on Wednesday following its fourth quarter earnings, which presented weak guidance for its growth.

Also read: Spotify vs Neil Young: What are the false claims made on the Joe Rogan podcast?

Young had said that Rogan made frequent false and inaccurate claims about the coronavirus and vaccines on his Spotify podcast, ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’. 

Ek said that the company does not “change our policies based on one creator nor do we change it based on any media cycle or calls from anyone else.”

“While Joe has a massive audience… he also has to abide by those policies,” he added.

“There’s still work to be done. But I’m pleased that Spotify is already implementing several first-of-its-kinds measures to help combat misinformation and provide greater transparency,” the CEO added. 

Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who have signed a multi-year deal to produce and host podcasts for Spotify under their production company Archewell Audio, on Sunday urged Spotify to tame virus misinformation.

With inputs from the Associated Press