In response to vaccination misinformation disseminated on Joe Rogan's famous show via Spotify, Neil Young is said to have asked that his music be deleted.
"They may choose between Rogan and Young. Neither, "According to Rolling Stone magazine, Young, 76, declared in an open letter to his management and record label that was uploaded to his Neil Young Archives website on Monday.
Rogan, who is notorious for his irrational and frequently erroneous opinions on health, has received much criticism for doubting the safety of vaccines during the epidemic.
The original message was not viewed by NBC News, and it is unknown why it was taken down from Young's website. The original post's "A-Message-To-Spotify" link presently redirects to a blank website. Young's representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment left overnight.
The Canadian-American musician requested that his manager and record label "let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all of my songs off their platform," according to the letter.
According to Rolling Stone, he stated he was "doing this because Spotify is distributing misleading information regarding vaccinations — perhaps causing death to individuals who accept the deception they are propagating."
Young clarified that he was referring to "The Joe Rogan Experience," which is now Spotify's most popular podcast. Last year, Rogan agreed to a $100 million agreement with Netflix, which gave the streaming service exclusive rights to the show.
"JRE, which is solely on Spotify and has an estimated 11 million listeners every episode... has immense influence," Young added. "Spotify has a responsibility to prevent misinformation from spreading on its platform."
"Please act on this immediately today and keep me updated on the time schedule," he replied, demanding that his song be removed from the site."
At 7:00 a.m., Young's songs were still available on Spotify Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. ET.
NBC News reached out to Spotify and Joe Rogan for comment overnight, but neither responded.
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| Podcaster Joe Rogan has said he is not "an anti-vax person" after facing backlash over his comments about the Covid-19 vaccine |
Young isn't the only one who thinks Rogan's program is full of misinformation about vaccines.
Around 270 physicians, academics, and other healthcare professionals sent an open letter to Spotify last month urging that the company implement a policy on disinformation, noting Rogan's "concerning the history of spreading falsehoods, notably claiming the Covid-19 epidemic."
"Throughout the Covid-19 epidemic, Joe Rogan's podcast has regularly promoted misleading and inaccurate statements, creating skepticism in science and medicine," the letter stated.
"By permitting the spread of incorrect and societally damaging assumptions, Spotify is allowing its hosted material to erode public faith in scientific research and raise doubt in the integrity of data-driven medical advice," it stated.
The signatories of the petition took issue with a Rogan interview with a doctor, Robert Malone, who said that Americans had been "hypnotized" into wearing masks and obtaining vaccines.
Rogan also appeared to dissuade young people from getting vaccinated in an April 2021 broadcast.
Last September, he seemed to endorse the use of ivermectin to battle Covid-19 after admitting to using the widely panned medication after testing positive for the virus. Health experts have advised the public to avoid taking the medicine to treat Covid-19 because it is generally used on cattle.
Rogan has stated that he is not "anti-vax" and that he should not be relied upon for medical advice because he is not a physician. He's also stated that he feels his remarks were exaggerated.
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