Canadian Joni Mitchell says she is in solidarity with Neil Young and has also decided to withdraw all her music from streaming music giant Spotify.
Posted at 12:29 a.m.
Earlier this week, Neil Young severed ties with the platform after giving the company an ultimatum over concerns over Joe Rogan spreading misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine in his podcast. The Joe Rogan Experience.
In a statement on her website on Friday, Joni Mitchell said she is acting because “irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people’s lives.”
The Canadian singer-songwriter says she also supports the scientific community.
She included on her website a letter signed by a coalition of scientists, medical professionals and professors who criticize Spotify for airing Joe Rogan podcasts which they say contain misinformation about the pandemic, including by deterring vaccination in young people and children.
Spotify, which has a multi-year distribution deal with Joe Rogan, granted Young’s request on Wednesday and began pulling his albums within hours.
“I’m with Neil Young!” said Joni Mitchell on her website.
“I have decided to remove all my music from Spotify,” the statement read. Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people’s lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue. »
Despite Young’s gesture, however, some of his music can still be heard on Spotify.
In Canada, songs by Young have disappeared, including Cinnamon Girl, Old Man and the entirety of his new album Barn, but several other titles included in movie soundtracks and compilations were still around.
Joni Mitchell first rose to prominence in the 1960s for composing and performing songs such as The Circle Game, Both Sides Now and Woodstock.
She went on to record the influential album Blue and more than 20 others during his career.