A thought about Neil Young vs. Spotify

[PJMcK]

Last edited Thu Jan 27, 2022, 11:24 AM - Edit history (1)

Neil Young is angry that Spotify publishes Joe Rogan’s podcast because it’s full of misinformation about the global pandemic. He said, in essence, “Spotify can have me or they can have Rogan but not both.” Good for Neil for holding true to his principles.

Here’s the kicker: Spotify looked at the two revenue streams and decided to keep Rogan and let Young go.

Who really won this battle? The business that will continue to profit from transmitting lies and misinformation or the musical artist who stood firm for his beliefs?



NOTE: This post was originally a response to another thread.

[Scrivener7]

1. If any other artist had any guts at all, Spotify would lose. But they don't seem to.

I hear David Crosby followed suit, but that's not going to do it.

But sometimes it isn't about "winning a battle." Sometimes it's about being able to look yourself in the mirror. I've never been a big fan of Neil Young, but I totally respect his decision. I don't patronize Spotify, but now I never will. It doesn't make a difference to them, I am sure but as I say, it's about being able to look yourself in the mirror. And that is based on what you support and what you reject.

[PJMcK]

7. It would take lots of artists

As I wrote, good for Neil. I applaud his principled stand and I won’t use Spotify anymore.

The problem is that Spotify doesn’t care. They’ll continue making money.

If lots of artists banded together, you’re probably right that it might have an effect. Sadly, I don’t see that happening.

[Scrivener7]

10. Yes. And it is so disappointing that other artists haven't done it.

But, again, the intrinsic value of an action for the individual is in the action itself. It isn't in how many people join you in it.

In terms of whether it changes anything, you do need others to join. But for Neil Young deciding how he is going to live his life (and David Crosby), deciding what he supports and what he stands for, the action is valuable.

Sometimes you just have to do the right thing. No matter what other people are doing.

[lagomorph777]

11. How about Stills and Nash?

[jcgoldie]

28. Eddie Vedder your table is ready

Pearl Jam has sacrificed to do whats right before and probably can afford to do what a lot of artists can’t. Dave Grohl would be another with a lot of influence…

[spanone]

2. Neil Young can walk away with his principles in hand. He wins.

[PJMcK]

6. I agree

However, Spotify will continue without Neil Young (or me) and they’ll continue to make a profit.

It feels vaguely like a Pyrrhic victory, I’m sad to write.

[harumph]

3. I don't think Neil had any misapprehensions -

It was obvious the way this would go. That said, he's often stood up
for what is right despite taking a financial hit. But at least he forced
Spotify to show themselves for what they are.

[MagickMuffin]

4. Spotify has a 100$ investment in Rogan

They bought and paid for Rogan, so in essence no real winners in this case.

Spotify is only protecting their investment.

[joshcryer]

21. Rogan permits Spotify to also diversify their ad portfolio.

He brings them in about $100 million in ad revenue alone (click "Try it out" and export the excel spreedsheet into your own Google drive).

At the bare minimum they must keep him on until he's paid back their investment, but they are no doubt weighing the plusses and minuses of keeping him on. Expect after his $200 million contract is paid off he starts to get pressure to calm down on controversial, but that should just happen naturally because the way corporations work and the way Rogan is an idiot and easily manipulated.

[Act_of_Reparation]

26. Not quite.

Joe Rogan gets more listeners in a single week than Neil Young gets in an entire month. This isn't a function of sunk-cost; Rogan makes them a shitload of money.

[FakeNoose]

29. It seems they treat Joe Rogan the same way Sirius treats Howard Stern

Howard Stern has almost a partner-status with Sirius, and it seems Spotify wants to do the same.
But in my opinion they picked the wrong guy.

[MissMillie]

5. Maybe other artists will follow suit

Other than that, I don't think it's an issue of winning, but rather standing on principle.

[BannonsLiver]

30. Or maybe some need the cash and or don't feel the need to politicize every facet of their lives.

There was a time in America when that was the norm. But of course we’re far down that road now. Will probably be our undoing, but I digress.

[NewHendoLib]

8. Neil Young has the backbone that I wish so many would.

We live in a world of excuses - "I need Facebook because X. I need TV because Y".

Our culture has sold out on a massive scale.

I admire Neil Young for what he did. We left Facebook, we turned off all TV (17 years ago) - it is our tiny stand. Using these things supports all of the bad that they do as well. When we watch and we use, we essentially say it's OK what they do.

I find these times incredibly depressing.

[Sympthsical]

9. I respect anyone who sticks with their beliefs when it costs something

It's easy for people to be against things, especially on the internet, when they know it doesn't cost them a nickel to post some grandstanding on social media (see: most celebrities). So Young's actions stand out.

That said, Spotify isn't going to get rid of Rogan. They paid him $100 million, and he brings in far more revenue than Neil Young ever could. Mix in that the demographics are completely in Rogan's favor. He appeals to Millennials and Zoomers.

And among them, Young's move isn't hitting because they know his history with Spotify. In a word, Young kind of hates the place anyway. He attempted to create his own digital music service, Pono, and Spotify more or less killed it. So he's always had a rocky relationship with them. I don't think this is even the first time he's pulled his music from them. So I've already seen it kind of dismissed as "Neil hates them anyway."

If big contemporary artists started pulling, then you might see some movement. Basically, you'd have to get these people:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-streamed_artists_on_Spotify#Most_monthly_listeners

But they're making millions.

https://edm.com/industry/spotify-highest-earning-artists

[relayerbob]

12. Spotify is terrible in every way

They’ve billions ripping off musicians, are using said money to move into military AI, and now this. I’ve never had interest in using that service, as there many options, and encourage anyone who is, to immediately stop.

[PJMcK]

13. I've used Spotify sparingly in the past

No more.

I’ll stand with Neil on this.

[relayerbob]

23. Thank you!

[obamanut2012]

14. Rogan

[PJMcK]

15. Oops!

Typo.

Thanks, I fixed it.

[Ron Green]

16. Spotify "won the battle" only if money

is the only important thing.

[PJMcK]

18. Principles are important

It’s why I admire Neil Young.

However, my point is that Spotify doesn’t care about principles. They’re a for-profit business.

They won’t miss Young.

[turbinetree]

17. Fuck Spotify...they made there bed...and they don't care about principles of keeping people alive..

[PJMcK]

19. Exactly (n/t)

[Hugin]

20. What's Spotify?

Neil Young, OTOH, I've heard of.

[Act_of_Reparation]

27. When did it become cool to take pride in not knowing things?

[samnsara]

22. he got rich before spotify..he doesnt need them and neither do we

[BannonsLiver]

24. I'm going to continue to use Spotify

Rogan is a moron and I don’t listen to him but I like the service. The only thing Young did was draw even more attention to Rogan.

[Norbert]

25. I like Spotify but Neil is part of the soundtrack of my life.

What if Fleetwood Mac does the same thing. The Ruours album (the record that will not go away) is currently in Billboard's top 15 or thereabouts.