Taylor Swift Fans Call for Her to Pull Music From Spotify
Taylor Swift at the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony, Oct. 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Taylor Swift’s fans are calling on the pop star to pull her music from Spotify in solidarity with other musicians who are protesting how the streaming platform has handled the Joe Rogan and Neil Young ordeal.
Rogan has been met with massive backlash after introducing guests onto his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” who have shared controversial and what many believe are misinformative views of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response, Young issued an ultimatum to Spotify — either the streaming giant gets rid of the show or he removes his music from the platform. Spotify bought the Rogan podcast last year in a reported $100 million deal.
Spotify did not give in and as a result, Young demanded his catalog be taken down. Since then other top musicians have followed suit and now there is pressure for Swift to do the same.
In a tweet, writer and director Peter Paige named the “Shake It Off” singer along with other powerhouse stars Madonna and Adele who could make Spotify take note should they take down their music from the streamer.
“Hey @Spotify — bad call. Really bad call,” Paige wrote. “Choosing the side of disinformation in the middle of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Wow. I hope other artists — @taylorswift13 @Adele @Madonna — will align themselves with Neil Young.”
Paige was not alone in his call.
“The way Taylor Swift could end Joe Rogan with a single tweet at Spotify… what is the hold up,” one fan tweeted.
“Who else thinks it would be AMAZING for Taylor Swift to punish Spotify by DITCHING them for choosing Joe Rogan’s Covid lies over Neil Young’s music?” another Twitter user wrote.
“Wouldn’t it be an absolute riot to see what would happen if Taylor Swift dumped Spotify?” another added.
“I’d like to see Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry join Neil Young & Joni Mitchell in leaving Spotify. It’s time to put the nail in the coffin. #GoodbyeSpotify” another Twitter user chimed in.
Earlier this week Graham Nash, who played alongside Young while they performed as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, announced that he would be removing his music from Spotify as well.
“Having heard the Covid disinformation spread by Joe Rogan, I completely agree with and support my friend Neil Young and I am requesting that my solo recordings be removed from the service,” Nash said in a statement, according to Rolling Stone.
India Arie made a similar announcement Monday on Instagram.
“Neil Young opened a door that I MUST walk through. I believe in freedom of speech,” The artist wrote. “However, I find Joe Rogan problematic for reasons OTHER than his Covid interviews… FOR ME ITS ALL HIS language around race,” she wrote. : “What I am talking about is RESPECT – who gets it and who doesn’t. Paying musicians a Fraction of a penny? And HIM $100M? This shows the type of company they are and the company that they keep.”
