Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
Royalty reform and short-track eligibility dispute
Spotify announced a revised sound-recording royalty approach intended to reduce fraudulent payments and limit eligibility for very short functional tracks. Critics argued that thresholds could disadvantage emerging artists, while supporters said the changes could redirect money toward legitimate music.
2022
Joe Rogan podcast and vaccine-information controversy
Controversial COVID-19 and vaccine-related material on The Joe Rogan Experience triggered criticism from medical professionals, musicians and other stakeholders. Neil Young and some other artists removed or requested removal of music from Spotify. The company retained the program while publishing content rules and adding health-information notices.
2022
Spotify removes about 70 old Joe Rogan episodes
Company response
In early February 2022, Spotify removed about 70 older episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience. The removals occurred on a Friday amid controversies related to Rogan. According to the source, Spotify did not provide an explanation for removing the episodes. The report does not specify which episodes were removed or the reasons behind the action.
Spotify removed about 70 old episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience on Friday, amid controversies related to Rogan. The article says Spotify gave no explanation for the removals.
Source excerpt
Spotify, which has been beleaguered by Rogan-related controversies for weeks, removed about 70 old episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” on Friday, according to the website JRE Missing, giving no explanation.
Popular Spotify podcast host Joe Rogan, who is white, apologized early Saturday morning for previously using the N-word after the musician India Arie, who is Black, posted a video montage online of Rogan saying the word about 20 times on his show across the years.
2022
Spotify CEO defends content-policy decisions
Company response
In a controversy note concerning Spotify, the company's CEO Daniel Ek addressed decisions about the service's content during an earnings call. The discussion arose amid requests from creators to remove content. Ek defended the service's decisions and stated that the company does not change its policies based on a single creator or on a media cycle. The event was reported on February 3, 2022.
During an earnings call, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek defended the service's decisions amid creators' requests to remove content, saying the company does not change policies based on one creator or a media cycle.
Company response
Clarification — Spotify
“I think the important part here is that we don’t change our policies based on one creator nor do we change it based on any media cycle, or calls from anyone else,” Ek said.
Source excerpt
Amidst all the recent Spotify controversy over the last week or so, CEO and founder Daniel Ek has defended the service's decisions in regards to Joe Rogan's podcast.
Neil Young just about initiated a movement last week when he demanded Spotify remove either his music catalog or Rogan's podcast, which the singer-songwriter argued is spreading questionable information related to vaccines.
In response to the increasing number of creators requesting their content be taken off the platform, Ek spoke about the company's policies during an earnings call, according to a report by the New York Times.
2022
Spotify addresses concerns over Joe Rogan podcast
Company response
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek addressed concerns raised by medical and scientific communities regarding Joe Rogan's podcast. According to Spotify, the company was adding content advisories to episodes discussing COVID-19, directing listeners to a hub with links to trusted sources, and implementing measures to combat misinformation and provide greater transparency.
Stated objective. The company said its measures would help combat misinformation and provide greater transparency.
Company response
Remediation — Spotify
I'm pleased that Spotify is already implementing several first-of-its-kinds measures to help combat misinformation and provide greater transparency.
Source excerpt
"There's still work to be done," Ek said. "But I'm pleased that Spotify is already implementing several first-of-its-kinds measures to help combat misinformation and provide greater transparency."
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek addressed the controversy around comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan on Wednesday, saying that the company is "trying to balance creative expression with the safety of our users."
Following the backlash, Spotify said it is adding a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19. The advisory will direct listeners to a COVID-19 hub that will include links to trusted sources, the company said.
2022
Spotify announces COVID-19 content advisories
Company response
Spotify said it would add an advisory to podcast episodes discussing COVID-19, directing listeners to a resource hub with information from medical and scientific authorities. The company described the measure as a response to criticism over misinformation on The Joe Rogan Experience. The announcement concerned advisory labels on COVID-19-related podcast content and the referral of listeners to authoritative medical and scientific sources.
Stated objective. The advisory will direct listeners to a resource hub featuring up-to-date information shared by scientists, physicians, and other healthcare authorities.
Company response
Remediation — Spotify
An advisory on any podcast episode on its platform that includes coronavirus discussion will direct listeners to a resource hub featuring up-to-date information shared by scientists, physicians, and other healthcare authorities, the company said in a statement Sunday.
Remediation — Spotify
Spotify announced that it was “working to add a content advisory to any podcast episode that includes a discussion about COVID-19”
Source excerpt
Spotify shares surged Monday as the audio streaming company said it will add an advisory to content containing discussions about COVID-19, a response to criticism that "The Joe Rogan Experience" program was spreading misinformation about the virus.
An advisory on any podcast episode on its platform that includes coronavirus discussion will direct listeners to a resource hub featuring up-to-date information shared by scientists, physicians, and other healthcare authorities, the company said in a statement Sunday.
Following the criticism of Spotify's handling of the controversial content in 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast, the platform will now add COVID-19 content advisories to podcast episodes that discuss the disease.
2022
Spotify faces artist protest over vaccine misinformation
Public backlash
In a controversy noted in January 2022, the musician Joni Mitchell announced that she would remove her music from Spotify. The action followed a protest by Neil Young against the service carrying Joe Rogan's podcast. According to the source, the protest opposed the spread of Covid-19 vaccine misinformation on the platform. The event is recorded as an artist protest over vaccine misinformation involving Spotify and its hosting of the podcast.
Source excerpt
Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has announced that she will remove her music from Spotify following the lead of Neil Young in protesting the popular streaming service giving voice to misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines.
2022
Spotify faces boycott calls over Joe Rogan podcast controversy
Public backlash
Spotify faced backlash over its handling of the conflict between Neil Young and Joe Rogan. Joni Mitchell announced that she was willing to join Young's boycott and was seeking to withdraw her music from the platform.
Source excerpt
The backlash faced by Spotify in the wake of the conflict between Neil Young and Joe Rogan is apparently being fuelled by figures like the head of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and another musician, Joni Mitchell.
The latter, for her part, announced that she is willing to join Young's boycott of Spotify. Mitchell said she is seeking to withdraw her music from the platform in a letter titled "I Stand With Neil Young" posted on her website.
The podcast host is no stranger to being at the centre of controversies, as he is often accused of misinformation or even hate speech.
2022
Experts call on Spotify to monitor Joe Rogan’s podcast over COVID-19 misinformation allegations
Public backlash
At least 270 doctors and scientists signed an open letter asking Spotify to monitor Joe Rogan’s podcast, alleging that it repeatedly spread misleading and false claims about COVID-19. The claims are attributed to the letter’s signatories.
Source excerpt
Aside from the episode where Dr. Malone was in the show, the experts also mentioned that Joe Rogan has "repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast."
Joe Rogan is in another backlash on Wednesday as at least 270 doctors and scientists signed an open letter requesting Spotify to monitor his podcast over COVID misinformation.
2019
Pro Music Rights sues Spotify over royalties and song removal
Lawsuit filed
Pro Music Rights and Sosa Entertainment filed a complaint against Spotify entities seeking monetary damages. The plaintiffs allege Spotify failed to pay royalties for streams, removed their songs from its platform, and engaged in anticompetitive and unfair or deceptive practices; these are allegations reported in the complaint.
Source excerpt
The complaint alleged that Spotify has not paid the full royalty for the 550,000,000-plus streams of PMR’s songs on Spotify.
On November 25, plaintiff Pro Music Rights filed a complaint against Defendant, Spotify (
PMR has sought monetary damages to compensate for injuries caused by Spotify’s failure “to fulfill its duties and obligations as a music streaming service,” the willful removal of content for anticompetitive purposes, unfair and deceptive business practices and engagements