Spotify CEO criticizes Rogan for racial slurs, but keeps podcast | Media News

Joe Rogan has put Spotify in a difficult position, but the rising star is not prepared to be different from the podcast celebrity despite being heavily criticized for his anti-coronavirus vaccine comments and use of abusive language.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek also said in a message to staff Sunday that Rogan’s racist language was “extremely hurtful” and that the owner was the one who initiated the removal of most of the “Joe Rogan Experience” sections.

“While I strongly disagree with what Joe has said and I agree with his idea of ​​removing the previous episodes from our platform, I realize that some will want more,” said Ek in the letters. “And I want to make one point very clear – I do not believe that silenceing Joe is the answer.”

The letter is a clear sign that Spotify stands for Rogan’s future with the company as other musicians, including Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and India Arie, have resigned from the show and some may follow suit. Spotify claims to have paid $ 100m for its own Rogan podcast, which now threatens to undermine the main idea but is also an important part of the corporate mindset to become a music venue.

“We need to have clear lines around the content and take action when it crosses, but restraint is a slippery slope. Looking at the issue in depth, with deep reflection and open debate that encourages the necessary progress,” wrote Ek.

He also said he was “deeply saddened” by the impact the dispute had on Spotify employees. Rogan apologized Saturday for using N-words in the past.

Spotify’s move may not be the case with one part of a growing world that has a huge impact on genetic information and vaccines, experts say.

“If Spotify says, ‘We can’t let him go. He has the right to say what he wants,’ which goes on a line where there is a definite support for discrimination on the platform,” said Adia Harvey Wingfield, professor of sociology at the University of Washington in St. Louis. Louis, he said before writing a letter to Ek. was released.

The site should also be selected as offensive and ubiquitous in its programming, where racist, homosexual music is available, says John Wihbey, a professor at Northeastern University and a future technical expert.

“There’s a real self-assessment you need to do more than Joe,” Wihbey said Sunday. “This is a great time to read the fun and platform to see where the window is, which is on the line.”

In his letter, Ek announced a $ 100m grant for the licensing, production and sale of “music and audio material from unauthorized groups” without further ado.

Rogan’s public outcry began on January 24 when Young asked for his songs to be removed due to complaints that Rogan promoted doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine. Other artists followed, including Joni Mitchell and Roxane Gay.

Spotify said it would soon add a warning to all podcasts discussing COVID-19, directing audiences to real-world, most recent news from scientists and health professionals.

The review intensified when a video was released last week showing Rogan repeatedly using N. Arie’s words he posted on his Instagram account, using the hashtag #DeleteSpotify.

“They take this money built from the river, and pay this person $ 100 million, but they pay us about .003% of the coin,” the Grammy winner wrote. “I don’t want to make that much money.”

Rogan apologized in an Instagram video on Saturday, saying the scandal was “very upsetting and embarrassing” he had experienced and that he had not used N’s words for years.

Ek told The Wall Street Journal last week that he had taken on the responsibility of being “slow to respond” to criticism for false vaccinations. It took the company five days to respond publicly to Young.

“It has become clear to me that we have a responsibility to do more to assist and to obtain validated information from the medical and scientific teams that guide us in an unprecedented way,” Ek said in a statement.

Rogan is an amazing and interesting mix who leads the dialogue of people, arts and cultures, Wihbey said, describing his brand as a regular “bro America”.

His comments were racist, Wihbey said, but hoped Rogan would see this as an opportunity to discuss in depth the vaccines and immunizations in future stages. His audience could not understand the discussion in any other way, Wihbey said.

“I think gathering such an audience is important,” he said. “They can say things that I think can move a needle.”

Wingfield said the debate could be a good one if it begins to change for the better.

“I think that if Joe Rogan can learn something from this and become the driving force behind this discussion, it could be very important,” he said. “But I want to emphasize again that this is a very good thing, and I don’t know if it will ever happen.”

Spotify claims to have 406 million users a month, about 20 percent since last year, and advertising has grown exponentially thanks to podcasts. The musicians are still making huge profits from Spotify, experts say. The company had 31 percent of the 524 million songs recorded worldwide in the second half of 2021, more than in second-place Apple Music, according to Midia Research.