As Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have yanked their catalogs from Spotify in response to the spread of COVID-19 vaccine information by Spotify-exclusive podcast host Joe Rogan, both the platform and Rogan are now responding to mounting criticism.
In an Instagram video last night, Rogan thanked fans for support and pointed to two episodes in which doctors appeared on his show and expressed anti-vax stances. He said he’s not a doctor or a scientist, but simply a host who’s open to sharing different perspectives.
“Do I get things wrong? Absolutely, but I try to correct them,” Rogan said. “I’m interested in having interesting conversations with people that have differing opinions.”
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Rogan, who does all guest scheduling himself, said he’s sorry that Young and Mitchell “feel that way,” and expressed support for a move made by Spotify over the weekend to put disclaimers on episodes where views are expressed about COVID-19 that are contrary to the consensus of experts.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek outlined these plans over the weekend, though his blog post neither mentioned Rogan by name nor suggested that it was taking any disciplinary action.
To combat misinformation, Spotify will add content advisories to any podcasts that include discussions about COVID-19, directing listeners to a hub that provides “easy access to data-driven facts, up-to-date information as shared by scientists, physicians, academics, and public health authorities around the world, as well as links to trusted sources.”
“We have an obligation to do more,” Ek wrote, “to provide balance and access to widely-accepted information from the medical and scientific communities guiding us through this unprecedented time.”
