Shares of Spotify (SPOT) stock fell briefly this afternoon after the Joe Rogan podcast became unavailable.
The podcast is still available on Spotify for streaming, but it was briefly unavailable this afternoon. Spotify has not commented on the unavailability. The scare follows the removal of 70 podcast episodes, which Digital Music News first reported earlier this month. In total, Spotify has yanked 113 separate episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, raising the specter of further unannounced deletions.
The Wall Street panic follows a stare-down with Neil Young, who demanded that his music be removed from the platform if Joe Rogan remained. Since then, several musicians like Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, and Nash and other content creators like India Arie have cut ties with the platform. Young, who railed against Rogan for spreading COVID misinformation, personally appealed to Spotify’s employees, telling them to leave before the organization “eats up their soul.”
Earlier today, Ava DuVernay’s podcast production company and Spotify quietly parted ways — without any explanation.
Spotify’s Chief Content Officer Dawn Ostroff told advertisers at a conference last week that the event has been a “real learning experience” for the audio streaming service. SPOT shares have plunged about 59% since hitting record highs just a year ago.
News also broke this week that the deal Spotify signed with Joe Rogan is worth $200 million. That’s $100 million more than previously reported. The multi-year deal sees Spotify as the home of the Joe Rogan Experience. So far, Rogan has said he is sticking with Spotify because they’ve stuck by him. Conservative video platform Rumble offered to match the $100 million offer – but Rogan turned it down.
Daniel Ek has also sent internal letters to Spotify staffers discussing the situation. “While I strongly condemn what Joe has said and I agree with his decision to remove past episodes from our platform, I realize some will want more,” Ek told his employees. “And I want to make one point very clear – I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer.”
“We should have clear lines around content and take action when they are crossed, but canceling voices is a slippery slope. Looking at the issue more broadly, it’s critical thinking and open debate that powers real and necessary progress,” Ek concluded. That message to staffers came just a day after Rogan apologized for using racial slurs on his podcast. But just a week after that apology, Rogan called the backlash a ‘political hit job.’
Keep in mind these motherfuckers started out as Pirate Bay!!
Bout time Karma fucked them prison style.
Zackly – no lube
Also in 2006, Ek was briefly the CEO of μTorrent, working with μTorrent founder Ludvig Strigeus. This ended when μTorrent was sold to BitTorrent on December 7, 2006. Strigeus would join Ek as a Spotify developer. “We should have clear lines around content and take action when they are crossed” OH YEH? Remember giving our music away for free then making yourself RICH at the same time!
Also in 2006, Ek was briefly the CEO of μTorrent, working with μTorrent founder Ludvig Strigeus. This ended when μTorrent was sold to BitTorrent on December 7, 2006. Strigeus would join Ek as a Spotify developer. “We should have clear lines around content and take action when they are crossed” OH YEH?
Buh bye lies and misinformation.
Keep attending your Branch Covidiot meetings!
Hey, what about freedom of speech and the right that so many right wingers stand up for by trying to destroy democracy.
Joe Rogan podcast isn’t something significant in the long run, Spotify will find another hot podcast to invest in soon.
Also, feel free to say whatever you want about Spotify and Ek, but I’ll be glad and grateful to have easy access to lots of songs from around the globe, while you guys (probably) partake in stupid conspiracies.
ROFL Joe Rogan has CNN and MSM’s panties in a bunch. How dare he have guests who have a different opinion than the gov sanctioned propaganda they spout.
opinion & propaganda, hmm, where do we find Facts & Truth?
Not from the Biden administration, Dr. Fraudci, or the CDC.
You continue to be stupid, and prove it.