Joni Mitchell's music returns to Spotify after 2-year protest

On March 21, Joni Mitchell's entire musical catalogue reappeared on Spotify. Two years ago, she removed her music from the streaming platform in solidarity with Neil Young, who boycotted Spotify over his concerns around the spreading of COVID-19 misinformation on comedian Joe Rogan's podcast. 

In a message posted to her website on Jan. 28, 2022 she wrote: "Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue." 

There was no official statement from Mitchell explaining the return, but the move follows Young returning his music to Spotify last week. 

Young released a since-deleted statement on his website, where he shared that because The Joe Rogan Experience was now available on multiple streaming services, he couldn't boycott them all: "My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify."

Excited fans took to Twitter to express their glee that Mitchell's iconic albums, like Blue and Both Sides Now, were back on the platform. 

Mitchell recently won best folk album at the 2024 Grammy Awards and performed for the first time ever at the ceremony, singing "Both Sides, Now" joined by Brandi Carlile, Allison Russell, Lucius, Blake Mills, Jacob Collier and SistaStrings.