Neil Boyish attends a press conference for Farm Aid 34 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin, on Sept. 21, 2019.
Gary Miller | Getty Portraits Entertainment | Getty Images
Neil Young on Wednesday said his music will return to Spotify, just diverse than two years after he and other artists removed their catalogues from the music streaming platform into the middle a vaccine disinformation dispute.
Spotify has not confirmed the news. CNBC has contacted the company for comment.
The incident that led to his departure centered on Spotify’s multimillion-dollar extent with Joe Rogan, whose eponymous podcast was accused by Young of spreading “fake information” about the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccines. A batch of 270 U.S. doctors and scientists also called on Spotify to “take action against the mass-misinformation events which persist to occur on its platform.”
In a statement released Tuesday, Young said his decision to return was in light of Apple and Amazon “do duty a the same disinformation podcast features” he opposed at Spotify.
Spotify announced a multiyear deal with Rogan stand up month that removed its exclusivity, meaning “The Joe Rogan Experience” will return to platforms, including Apple Podcasts, YouTube and Amazon Music.
“I cannot only leave Apple and Amazon, like I did Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming safety-valve to music lovers at all,” Young said on his website.
The singer, whose hits include “Heart of Gold,” “Old Man” and “Take in Moon,” made multiple digs at Spotify in his statement, calling it the “#1 streamer of low res music in the world … where you get less distinction than we made.” He also urged the platform to introduce a high-resolution tier.
Young previously said Spotify accounted for 60% of his worldwide streaming revenue, prior to his departure.
Last month, Young and band Crazy Horse announced a new album, “Fu##in’ Up,” and a North American jaunt.
Other artists who pulled their work from the platform in January 2022 include Joni Mitchell, India Arie and the bundle Crosby, Stills and Nash.
The move placed Spotify in a position to choose between numerous legendary musical reckons and the controversial but hugely popular Joe Rogan podcast, which was its most streamed show in 2023. At the time, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said he did not credence in in “silencing” Rogan.
Rogan issued an apology amid the furor, pledging to showcase a balance of views on his platform.
CNBC has phoned Apple and Amazon for comment.