Following criticism of Spotify’s work done with Joe Rogan, the music streaming company says that it is working to add advisory warnings to any podcast on its platform that speaks about Covid-19.
Joe Rogan has recently sparked some controversy for spreading misinformation pertaining to Covid-19 on his podcast, which just so happens to stream on Spotify. As a result of said misinformation shared by the host of the Joe Rogan Experience, Spotify has lost billions in market value, with musicians withdrawing their music left, right and center.
On Sunday, Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek, released an official statement addressing the spread of misinformation, and what the streaming platform intend on doing about it.
As said by Spotify:
“Based on the feedback over the last several weeks, it’s become clear to me that we have an obligation to do more to provide balance and access to widely-accepted information from the medical and scientific communities guiding us through this unprecedented time. These issues are incredibly complex. We’ve heard you – especially those from the medical and scientific communities.”
Spotify’s Approach to Covid-19
Given the recent developments with Joe Rogan, Spotify are taking the following steps to do their part in providing access to accurate information surrounding covid-19:
1. Spotify have published their long standing platform rules
Developed by Spotify’s internal team in combination with a few outside experts, Spotify’s platform rules were set to the reflect the changing safety landscape and are primed to be the ‘rules of the road’ to guide all of the platform’s creators.
2. Spotify are working on adding a content advisory to any podcast episode that discusses Covid-19
This resource provides easy access to data-driven facts, up-to-date information as shared by academics, physicians, public health authorities and scientists.
3. Spotify to highlight Platform Rules in their creator and publisher tools
Last but not least. Spotify are testing ways to highlight their Platform Rules in their creator and publisher tools in order to raise awareness around what is acceptable, and to further help creators understand their accountability for the content that they post on the platform.
Joe Rogan and Spotify
Late in 2020, Joe Rogan agreed to a $100 million deal to move his popular podcast exclusively to Spotify. However, Joe Rogan has been discouraging vaccination in young people, and promoted the use of unproven anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin to treat the virus.
However, Joe’s recent stand has caused quite the uproar with musicians Neil Young and Joni Mitchell leading an array of artists demanding that their music be removed from Spotify.
On Wednesday, Neil Young called Spotify “the home of life-threatening Covid misinformation”. In addition, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also shed light on their concerns about the Covid misinformation spread but will continue to work with the streaming platform.
The Joe Rogan Experience is Spotify’s most popular podcast, and one of the biggest in the world. It will be interesting to see what happens going forward with the relationship between Rogan and Spotify.
