Neil Young returns his music to Spotify, 2 years after Joe Rogan boycott
In his original protest, the musician told the streaming service, ‘they can have Rogan or Young. Not both'
Neil Young has announced that his music will return to the music streaming service Spotify, two years after his songs were removed as a form of protest against podcasts that were spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter posted on his Neil Young Archives website titled "My Return to Low Res Spotify," the Canadian singer-songwriter explained his choice to put his music back on the platform. "My decision comes as music services Apple and Amazon have started serving the same disinformation podcast features I had opposed at Spotify," he wrote.
"I cannot just leave Apple and Amazon, like I did Spotify, because my music would have very little streaming outlet to music lovers at all, so I have returned to Spotify, in sincere hopes that Spotify sound quality will improve and people will be able to hear and feel all the music as we made it. Qobuz and Tidal, where my music is presented, are all high res as well."
Young's focus on audio quality extends back to 2012 when he founded the music player Pono, a device that promised to present songs "as they first sound during studio recording sessions," as a Rolling Stone article at the time stated. Pono discontinued in 2017, with plans of transitioning to a streaming service that never came to fruition.
"Hopefully Spotify will turn to hi res as the answer and serve all the music to everyone," Young continued in his Tuesday post. "Spotify, you can do it! Really be #1 in all the ways. You have the music and the listeners!!!! Start with a limited hi res tier and build from there!"
On Jan. 24, 2022, Young publicly demanded that his music be taken off Spotify, writing to his manager and record label, Warner Music Group: "I want you to let Spotify know immediately today that I want all my music off their platform. They can have Rogan or Young. Not both."
After the decision was finalized, Spotify released a statement that read, "We regret Neil's decision to remove his music from Spotify, but hope to welcome him back soon."
At the time of this publication, Young's music had not been fully reinstated on Spotify yet.
Young will add to his discography next month with a new Neil Young and Crazy Horse album called Fu##in' Up, out April 26.